PDHblog
This is a place for members of Progressive Democrats of Hawai‘i to express their thoughts
and exasperations about political happenings. The opinions and views are not necessarily
those of PDH's steering committee or membership as a whole.

Momentum is building for impeachment! Here is one symptom of that:

All of a sudden, impeachment diaries are springing up on DailyKos like mushrooms after the rain: 4 yesterday, and 5 today! One of them has generated more than 400 comments.

Maybe its spring, and controversies are growing like spring flowers!

Bob Schacht

April 28 (Wednesday) is being hailed as the Nationwide Day of Protest Demanding Impeachment.

A major campaign of public protest, creative dissent, media activism, education, and coordinated lobbying has been launched to pursue accountability for these high crimes and misdemeanors through the Constitutional remedy of impeachment.
http://www.a28.org/

This is the place to meet other A28 folks, trade ideas, make friends, share photos, and more.
http://impeachspace.com/

I had wanted to call a meeting to plan something for that day, or rather that evening, since its a work day for me, but my apologies: I didn’t get it done. Instead, please take action on your own:

• Check out It is a Movement! http://impeach07.org
• Write a letter to your Representatives (remember to stress impeaching Cheney first)
• Write a letter to the Editor
• Talk to some of your less political friends or family members to talk with about it.

Bob

On Friday, March 23, at 7 pm, there was a dramatic reading of “The United States vs. George W. Bush et al. ” at the First Unitarian Church (2500 Pali Hwy). This was a performance of part of a book by retired Federal Prosecutor, Elizabeth de la Vega, consisting of a mock Grand Jury indictment of George W. Bush et al., with a terse dialog between prosecutor and witnesses, with prominent local actors reading the parts of this courtroom drama. The first 20 people in the house were advertised to become mock Jurists and maybe even to have a dialog as a part of the performance. Unfortunately, I was out of town for this event. If you were there, please write a comment to let us know how this worked out.

Bob

A number of organizations, led by the Hawaii chapters of NION and WCW, joined together and raised their Voices on March 17th to End the War NOW, forestall an Attack on Iran!, Impeach Bush for War Crimes!, and Stop the Militarization of Hawai`i.

Because the Bush Regime has committed war crimes, and is about to commit more, we have the responsibility to stop them.

We must show that the outrages committed by the Bush regime, from Iraq to Hawai`i, are not being done in our name!

The goal was to be part of building a movement powerful enough to end the war, and impeach Bush and Cheney for War Crimes.

The March 17th protest in Honolulu began at 3 pm with an Anti-war rally at Ala Moana Park, in Picnic Area No. 1 near the corner of Atkinson and Ala Moana (across from Macy’s).There were poets, speakers and info tables. Many people got there early to meet friends, listen to the speakers, and get the sign they wanted to carry. The speakers included representatives of the cooperating organizations.

The march on Ala Moana Blvd (with a trolley for those unable to march) began at 4 pm, at the corner of Ala Moana and Atkinson. They marched ewa on Ala Moana (mauka) to Kamakee, then went up Kamakee to Auahi and back to Ala Moana Park on the makai side of Ala Moana Blvd.

When the march returned, at about 5:30, the marchers were greeted back into the park by an awesome group of drummers, and then a line-up of poets and musicians. I was there with the PDH banner, and some flyers, bumper stickers, and petitions. Thanks again to Carolyn Hadfield and NION for allowing us to use one of the tables.

Bob

On March 16, Matthew Lopresti reported that he had worked with his State Senator Les Ihara Jr. to introduce a Senate Concurrent Resolution for impeachement of Bush and Cheney. Here is the link http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/Bills/SCR83_.htm. If you would like to track it, check this status page occasionally. It will show you if any hearings are scheduled. http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/docs/getstatus2.asp?billno=SCR83. Thanks, Matthew!

Wednesday, March 14, 11:30-1:15

Teach-In: “Impeach Bush for War Crimes”UH-Manoa Art Department Auditorium
Sponsored by World Can’t Wait and NION-Hawai`i
The teach-in will begin with a 27-minute DVD segment of testimony presented at the Bush Crimes Commission in NYC. Witnesses presenting testimony in the video include: Scott Ritter, former UN weapons inspector; Amy Bartholomew, professor of law, Carleton University; Larry Everest, author of Oil, Power Empire; Dahr Jamail, independent journalist; Jeremy Scahill, writer for The Nation and former correspondent for Democracy Now!; Camilo Mejia, Iraq vet and member of Iraq Veterans Against the War; David Swanson, organizer of Camp Democracy; Dr. Thomas Fasy, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine and expert on depleted uranium. This is a powerful DVD that everyone should own. You can purchase a complete set of the DVDs at: Bush Commission http://www.bushcommission.org/?q=node/68> for only $20. Or you can pick burned copies at the teach-in for $5.

The teach-in will feature a talk by Ann Wright (former State Dept diplomat and retired Army Reserve Colonel who resigned in opposition to the war in Iraq). Ann was a judge at the Bush Crimes Tribunal, as well as at other war crimes tribunals. She has met with hundreds of veterans of the Iraq War. Since the war in Iraq began she has been speaking at colleges, anti-war rallies, and churches, and is involved in building a grassroots movement to impeach. Check out her article “Blood Diamonds and Blood Oil” dated March 6, 2007 at: Ann Wright http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/030607R.shtml> . “We’re really privileged to have Ann speak at this teach-in at UH-Manoa! Don’t miss it!

There will be adequate time for questions/answers/discussions. We know that impeachment is controversial and many question whether Bush and Cheney have really committed crimes warranting impeachment. Or - for those who are convinced they have - they question whether it is possible. This teach-in will address both.

If you were at this event, please add a comment describing your impressions. Did you find it helpful? If there were to be a follow-up teach-in, what should be covered? The goal of the national impeachment process is to develop enough support in each congressional district that our representatives will feel empowered and impelled to demand impeachment!

Mahalo nui,

Bob Schacht

so, you can check out his campaign website (they all look oddly similar this time around) if you think i might have missed something, but here’s what i found on his site that relates to our issues:

on iraq:

Before the war in Iraq ever started, Senator Obama said that it was wrong in its conception. In 2002, then Illinois State Senator Obama said Saddam Hussein posed no imminent threat to the United States and that invasion would lead to an occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences….  Senator Obama introduced legislation in January 2007 to offer a responsible alternative to President Bush’s failed escalation policy. The legislation commences redeployment of U.S. forces no later than May 1, 2007 with the goal of removing all combat brigades from Iraq by March 31, 2008 — a date consistent with the bipartisan Iraq Study Group’s expectations.

on the environment/sustainable energy:

Senator Obama led a bipartisan effort to raise CAFE fuel economy standards….  The resulting Obama-Lugar-Biden bill would establish concrete targets for annual CAFE increases while giving industry the flexibility to meet those targets…..  Senator Obama introduced legislation encouraging automakers to make fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles by helping the companies shoulder the health care costs of their retirees. Domestic automakers would get health care assistance in exchange for their investing 50 percent of the savings into technology to produce more fuel-efficient vehicles…..  Senator Obama introduced legislation with Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS) to require 2 billion gallons of alternative diesels, such as biodiesel, to be produced domestically by 2015. Obama also sponsored legislation requiring oil companies, that made at least $1 billion in profits in the first quarter of 2006 to invest at least 1 percent of the their total reported first quarter 2006 profits into installing E85 pumps.

i have contacted his campaign for statements on our other issues, but so far i’ve not heard back from them.

There’s lots happening that is tilling the ground for possible impeachment.

• First there was the trial of Scooter Libby. The trial itself put a lot of new evidence in the public eye that put a “cloud” over the office of Vice President, which is my best guess for the phrase of the year, comparable to John Dean’s “cancer on the presidency” remark in the early days of Watergate. The trial, of course, culminated in a verdict of guilty on 4 of 5 counts on March 6, making the Vice President’s former Chief of Staff a convicted felon, and leaving everyone to wonder why he lied. In a press conference after the verdict was announced, Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald announced that no further indictments were planned, but he practically invited Congress to pick up where he has left off.
• The very next day, on March 6, a team of representatives of PDH and ADA/Hawaii met with Rep. Neil Abercrombie’s chief of staff, Amy Asselbaye, to find out his views on impeachment. We were disappointed to learn that Rep. Abercrombie is not much interested in impeachment at this time. Nevertheless, we have arranged for a meeting with Rep. Abercrombie in early April to follow up on this. This team consisted of members of the HI-01 impeachment committee.
• The very next day, on March 7, Congressman Henry Waxman, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, said that he wants Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald to testify before his committee about his investigation into the leak of covert CIA operative Valerie Plame-Wilson’s identity. Plame-Wilson, Waxman’s office said, has agreed to testify before Congress on March 16. The Libby trial left more loose ends dangling than a Steve Bochko episode of Hill Street Blues, so there’s plenty of work to do.
• Meanwhile, massive anti-war actions throughout the country on March 17-19 will loudly raise the impeachment demand. Here in Hawaii, there are plans for the March 17th protest in Honolulu:
• 3 pm: Anti-war rally at Ala Moana Park. Gather at Picnic Area No. 1 near the corner of Atkinson and Ala Moana (across from Macy’s). Poets, speakers and info tables. PDH is planning to be there. Get there early to meet friends, listen to the speakers, and get the sign you want to carry.
• 4 pm: March on Ala Moana Blvd
  
• 5:30 (or when march returns): Concert begins.
• What about parking? March 17th is St. Patrick’s Day and is also the day of the Dragon Boat races at Ala Moana. So parking is going to be tight. There’s parking at Ala Moana, but be aware that security guards may stop you if you’re carrying an anti-war sign or banner. Consider the bus, biking, and carpool if you can.

The momentum is building towards April 28, national impeachment day! If this happens, which it absolutely can, then we might be surprised to see a breaking of the impeachment logjam by May or June and the beginning of those Judiciary Committee hearings.

However, with the Waxman hearings beginning next week, things could accelerate faster than this!

Stay tuned!

Bob Schacht

to be honest, before i started doing my research on the democratic presidential hopefuls, i’d never heard of this guy. his comments to the handful of issues on his website are brief (concise?), but one particular bit caught my attention and as i start this process of doing my best to give you all the most accurate and comprehensive information on all the candidates, i want to start with this guy and his comments on health care in this country….

Medicine and medical technology in the United States is the finest in the world. However, it is also one of the leading causes of bankruptcies. With the rising cost of healthcare, it is time to rethink our approach. The solution to the healthcare crisis is a national, universal single-payer not-for-profit U.S. healthcare system.

that’s right, folks, mike gravel supports a national, universal single-payer system in this country! i don’t know about the rest of you, but that singular position bumps him up much closer to the top of my list.

i’ll be posting more on mike (and the other candidates) just as soon as i can, but i wanted to start with this candidate, because i’d never heard of him before and am impressed with at least some of his responses.

check back!

in the coming days and weeks (hopefully not months) i will begin posting for all the candidates (or as many for whom i can find information) regarding their ‘official’ positions on issues such as environment, education, iraq, etc….

the information i will be posting will come either from their official websites, or from someone in their campaigns.

personally, i think it’s just a bit early to be thinking about these things, but i know people are already beginning to pick their candidates and i just want to make sure people are making informed decisions.

check back for more real soon….