Kucinich Calls for Congress to Seize Back War Powers

Congressman Dennis Kucinich of Ohio has begun circulation of 2 privileged resolutions designed to retract powers lent to the Excutive Branch to fund wars in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. Kucinich, a consistent anti-war Democrat, announced the drafting of the resolutions after President Hamid Karzai said his country would need US's military support for another 15 to 20 years, making the 2011 draw down that President Obama recently proposed impossible.

My bills, which would trigger a timeline for a timely withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan and Pakistan, invoke the War Powers Resolution of 1973 and are intended to secure the Constitutional role of Congress, as directly elected representatives of the people, under Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, to decide whether or not America enters into war, continues a war, or otherwise introduces armed forces or material into combat zones.

Despite the president's assertion that previous congressional action gives him the authority to respond to the attacks of September 11, 2001, a careful reading of the Authorization of Use of Military Force (AUMF) makes cleat that the AUMF did not supersede "any requirement of the War Powers Resolution" and therefore did not undermine Congress' ability to revisit the constitutional question of war powers at a later date.

Kucinich will be speaking at an anti-war rally in Washington D.D. on December 12 sponsored by EndUSWars.org. Other speakers include Senator Mike Gravel, 2008 Green Party Presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney and World Can't Wait's Executive Director Debra Sweet.


Privileged Resolutions PDF
War Powers Act of 2001

Secret Service and Police Stage Pre-emptive Attacks on Protestors

Polidoc heads into Minneapolis where we will catch up with Green Party Vice-Presidential candidate Rosa Clemente who attended the Monday protest against the Republican National Convention (RNC). While we haven't had the time to update our blog, we will do a significant wrap-up next week. Until then, here's a press release from the Green Party of United States.

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DESPITE POLICE RAIDS AND ARRESTS, MINNESOTA GREENS JOIN ANTIWAR, ANTIPOVERTY PROTESTS AT RNC

Greens have been among those targeted for harassment and intimidation by police in a wave of pre-emptive actions taken before the Republican National Convention in St. Paul.

On Saturday police surrounded the home of Michael Whelan, a long-time Green Party supporter, whose Arise Bookstore at one time housed the party's office. He was host to a group of independent journalists. The police broke down doors and subjected occupants to house arrest. "You figure this would be going on in South Africa, or Russia, not in St. Paul," Whelan said. "St. Paul is nice."

The previous night, police had invaded a meeting space in St. Paul rented by the anarchist RNC Welcoming Committee. They seized equipment and subjected some fifty people to handcuffing and search. Next day Monica Bicking, a leading member of the organization, was jailed along with three friends, and her home in Minneapolis was boarded up for alleged violation of city codes.

Meanwhile, the group's nonviolence consultant and trainer, Betsy Raasch-Gilman, expecting arrest, took "sanctuary" at the meetinghouse of Twin Cities Friends (Quakers). As of this morning Bicking had been released, but those arrested with her and several others remain in custody. Both Bicking and Raasch-Gilman are daughters of former Green Party candidates and present spokespeople.

According to Minnesota poet and writer Richard Broderick, who is a member of the Green Party and has also been one of its candidates, "The erosion of civil liberties and constitutionally guaranteed rights in this country makes all the eloquent calls we heard from Denver for unity and restoring the American Dream little more than hollow rhetoric."

Despite the efforts at intimidation orchestrated by federal authorities and carried out by DFL administrations in both Hennepin and Ramsey counties, Minnesota Greens have united to bring their VP candidate, Rosa Clemente, to the Twin Cities. She addressed the antiwar marchers in St. Paul today and tonight appeared with the National Truth Commission on Poverty. She will be participating in the Poor People's march from Mears Park tomorrow.

McKinney Joins Sheehan in Campaign for California's 8th District

Green Party Presidential Candidate Cynthia McKinney has joined on as honorary co-chair of Cindy Sheehan's Congressional campaign. Sheehan is challenging incumbent Congresswoman and Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi for the California's 8th District seat. Sheehan's and McKinney's shared dedication to end war and drill this administration has pulled them together as friends and candidates.

“Having Cynthia on board is a significant gain for my campaign. She has experience in tough campaigns and brings a wealth of knowledge. I am running to win, we have already raised close to $200,000 and everyday we get more and more support as people get more fed up with Pelosi’s mis-leadership,” says Sheehan.

McKinney has just about sewn up the Green Party nomination, which will be finalized at the Green Party Convention on Saturday, July 12 in Chicago, IL.

Mother's Day And It's Call for Peace

Our consumer culture has pushed us away from the roots of Mother's Day. However, it's American history dates back to the Civil War, 1870, when social activist Julia Ward Howe wrote the Mother's Day Proclamation as a call for peace and disarmament.

Peace has always taken a beating because of the very nature of the people who choose it over aggression as a first tactical measure to conflict resolution.

Progressive Electoral Activists, Cindy Sheehan and Cynthia McKinney, each took separate stages on Mother's Day but ask for the same thing - to stand up and take action.

While Sheehan was anticipating her own daughter soon going into labor (8 days overdue), McKinney was in the middle of a nationwide tour.

Here are their videos:


Cynthia McKinney - With the Stroke of a Pen from Polidoc on Vimeo.

Mother's Day Progressive Party with McKinney and Nader

Calendar Announcement:

Enjoy a progressive feast of events with third party candidates this Mother's Day. Both Independent Presidential Candidate Ralph Nader and Green Party Candidate Cynthia McKinney will be speaking in the Bay Area, California on Sunday, May 11.


Nader/Gonzalez Events
More Info Call -(510) 914-8355 or events@votenader.org
$10 contribution/ $5 student/low-income (no one turned away)

Sunday May 11th 7pm
Ralph Nader & Matt Gonzalez Rally
Roxie Theater
3117 16th Street San Francisco, CA 94103

Monday May 12th 12pm
Ralph Nader & Matt Gonzalez Rally
Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists
1924 Cedar St. (at Bonita) Berkeley, CA 94709

Monday May 12th 8pm
Ralph Nader & Matt Gonzalez Rally
Rio Theatre
1205 Soquel Ave. Santa Cruz, CA 95062


McKinney Event

Sunday, May 11 2-5 PM
Anna's Jazz Island
2120 Allston Way, Berkeley, Ca 94704
(Just East of Shattuck Ave.)

Presidential Candidate, former congresswoman the Honorable Cynthia McKinney and District 1 School Board Candidate Tennessee Reed. Speakers will include Devorah Major, Cecil Brown Reginald Lockett, Ishmael Reed, Kim McMillon.