"Policing the world, spreading democracy by force, nation building,....

.....and frequent bombing of countries that pose no threat to us - while leaving the homeland and our borders unprotected - result from a foreign policy that is contradictory and not in our self interest."

These are not the words of Senator Kerry or Kennedy; Congressman McDermott or Senator Boxer.

These are the words of a Republican Congressman from Texas -- Ron Paul.

Why do I post them here?

Because this particular "community" within DU recognizes that major election reform must happen if we are ever to do anything substantive about what Congressman Paul eloquently describes.

Because, if we do not have an election system that prevents the neocon, theocratic cabal from hacking it, AGAIN; we will have no chance of altering the massively failed, and, now criminal, foreign policy of the USA.

We need as many Republicans, as well as Democrats, and Greens and ..... to help us reform our election system. I just thought some of you might want to begin a dialogue with Congressman Paul along the lines of -- a truly fair election system in the USA might well be the necessary first step to reforming our failed foreign policy.

In case you doubt that he thinks it is failed, let me share three more quotes with you:

"Why do I believe these are such important questions? Because the #1 function of the federal government - to provide for national security - has been severely undermined. On 9/11 we had a grand total of 14 aircraft in place to protect the entire U.S. mainland, all of which proved useless that day. We have an annual DOD budget of over $400 billion, most of which is spent overseas in over 100 different countries. On 9/11 our Air Force was better positioned to protect Seoul, Tokyo, Berlin, and London than it was to protect Washington D.C. and New York City."

"Moreover, our ill-advised presence in the Middle East and our decade-long bombing of Iraq served only to incite the suicidal attacks of 9/11."

"Before 9/11 our CIA ineptly pursued bin Laden, whom the Taliban was protecting. At the same time, the Taliban was receiving significant support from Pakistan - our "trusted ally" that received millions of dollars from the United States. We allied ourselves with both bin Laden and Hussein in the 1980s, only to regret it in the 1990s. And it's safe to say we have used billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars in the last 50 years pursuing this contradictory, irrational, foolish, costly, and very dangerous foreign policy."

Here is the link to the speech, delivered this Wed., 26 January 2005, to the House of Representatives:

http://www.house.gov/paul/congrec/congrec2005/cr012605.htm

Peace.



BE THE BUSH OPPOSITION;24/7 -- and realize some of our allies may well be Republicans in 'red states'

Folks,

This is the only way this will happen. The case must be made in a non-partisan manner.

I'm probably silly, but, I think that at least half of the GOP membership actually has a conscience. I know this because I was raised by that half.

This cannot be about party to succeed. It must be about Justice.

I suggest the point to push for February is:

Welcome aboard Senator! Glad to have you.

Now about that AG vote, how can we help you reject it?

-Hoot

Is that an insult?

-Hoot

an excellent example of such; he calls himself first an Anerican and then a republican and he is working as hard as any of us on election reform and on exposing the fraud and the dangers of e-voting.

See his excellent articles
http://www.chuckherrin.com/ConservativeEmpathy.htm
Empathy Training for Compassionate Conservatives: Why the Democrats Are Still Whining About the Election (and Why Maybe We Should Be, Too)
which is the best and most convincing election fraud article I have seen

and

http://www.chuckherrin.com/LiberalEmpathy.htm
Empathy Training for Liberals: A Primer on the Conservative Mind, From the Inside of One.
which we would do well to read and take his suggestions if we want to win this battle. We have to frame the debate in a way that we are not alienating potential allies if we are to succeed.

On the Congressman's site.

The man might be on to something.

-Hoot

....can bring to the cause.

The issues of fair and valid elections; legal relations with other Nations; not torturing prisoners -- can be used as wedges to drive between many Republicans and the Bush neocon, theocratic cabal. We just need to place the wedges and drive them as hard and persistently as we can.

Peace.

TBO;24/7

I have liked him for a long time.

....of Congressman Paul.

Thank you Andy for stating it. I am going to be calling his office again on Monday.

Peace.

TBO;24/7

Send him a short thank you note, well need his
help.


Representative Ron Paul (R-TX)
Phone 202-225-2831
Fax: (202) 226-6288

Email
http://www.house.gov/paul/mail/welcome.htm

And for email faxing
remote-printer.Representative_Paul@12022266288.iddd.tpc.int

Read the speech.

Especially liked this part:
Driven by fear, we have succumbed to the age-old temptation to sacrifice liberty on the pretense of obtaining security. Love of security, unfortunately, all too often vanquishes love of liberty.

Entirely agree that we will need to build a coalition across parties to work on the issue of election reform.

outraged over the hijacking of their party that they may begin to work with Dems on other issues as well. Neo cons are not repubs; they are a breed unto themselves! I think you call it facist...

Each day, more moderates are coming forward and saying this as they realize how authoritarian the regime is.

so we don't alienate potential allies! I think when repubs are referred to as repukes, etc. it doesn't help this. I really like Herrin; he says it wasn't the repubs stealing the election from the dems; it was a group of powerful and corrupt repubs stealing it from the American people. This could be applied to our entire democracy.

Name calling may make us feel better momentarily, but does little to build alliances and address issues.
Better to attack the argument than the person.