Posted on 10/26/2001 10:00:12 AM PDT by Stand Watch Listen
Yesterday, the Congress passed the Anti-Terrorism bill, which President Bush is expected to sign immediately. You might think from that that bi-partisan cooperation has taken over in the realms of government in Washington. However, that is not the case.
While the Attorney General may now have more tools to ARREST terrorists, there appears to be a bit of a move on the part of Tom Daschle to make sure they never get to trial. He is absolutely refusing to budge on his strategy of blocking Bush judgeship nominations.
Senate Republicans had been holding up spending bills to force more judicial confirmations however, Daschle simply told President Bush that he needs the appropriations bills more than the Democrats do. The Republicans, not wanting to block needed appropriations in a time of crisis abandoned their efforts to use the appropriations bills for leverage.
This victory for Daschle comes at a time when there are more than 100 vacancies on the federal bench. The issue, of course, it Daschle's determination to force the President to select liberal judges. Republican sources said they plan to "renew their attack on the issue early next year."
"We're going to act in good faith," Sen. Trent Lott said. "We're going to do what these times call for. We hope they will do the same when it comes to confirming federal judges."
It appears that the solution to the refusal on the part of Daschle to allow Bush nominees to be brought to a vote, may lie in the kind of action that has erupted in the Bay Area of California in response to still another Berkeley City Council action. Remember the action of one Berkeley Councilman who refused to allow a group of Boy and Girl Scouts from Japan to come to city hall to deliver a letter from the mayor of their home city? Well, they have a new action that, this time, has so enraged people in the area that, according the Berkeley Mayor Shirley Dean, they have started a spontaneous boycott of city businesses.
On October 16th the City Council, in a five to four vote, with Mayor Dean voting in opposition, a resolution was introduced by Councilwoman Dona Spring, and approved by Kriss Worthington, who led the battle against the civil rights of the Japanese children, Maudelle Shirek, Linda Maio and Margaret Breland.. The resolution was to approve sending letters from the City of Berkeley to the area federal representatives requesting that they stop the bombing of Afghanistan.
The resolution, which was publicized in the San Francisco Chronicle, prompted a deluge of e-mail to the beleaguered Mayor who reported on her website:
"The Council's action has produced literally thousands of e-mail messages, letters and phone calls coming into my Office. I am extremely worried because most of these messages state they intend to boycott Berkeley financially. We have heard of contracts being abandoned, boycott flyers being distributed, dinner reservations being cancelled, real estate transactions being terminated, signs being displayed, and the movement seems to be growing. This is a serious consequence for our City coming at a time of economic downturn. As Mayor, I do not have the power to veto the resolution."It can only be rescinded if two people who voted for it place it once again on the agenda for another vote. I urge people everywhere to understand that the action that the Council took does not reflect the opinions of all of the people in Berkeley. It certainly does not necessarily reflect the opinions of our local businesses who had no part in formulating this policy. Please do not boycott Berkeley."
Following the concern about the boycott was another letter, telling of an earlier action taken in Berkeley on September 19th, eight days after nearly 6000 Americans were killed in terrorist actions. The City of Berkeley Fire Chief and City Manaager would not allow the American flag to be displayed on City fire trucks. They said the reason for their decision was "concern that someone might attack the flag during a peace rally scheduled for the following day, Thursday, on the University of California campus. Such attacks had happened in the past." Mayor dean explained her dilemma:
I immediately voiced strong opposition to the decision to remove flags from our fire trucks because I felt this situation was different from anything that had happened previously. I talked to the City Manager and appeared on television and radio stations in the San Francisco Bay Area. The City Manager refused to rescind the order to remove the flags. Berkeley is like most California cities in that the Mayor does not have the legal authority to countermand the authority of the City Manager in making this kind of operations decision."I believe the outpouring of opposition to the decision to remove the flags from the fire trucks made a difference. The Fire Chief and City Manager issued an apology and the flags were put back on the fire trucks on Friday morning, September 21st.
"Unfortunately some national radio stations and newspapers reported two things erroneously. Please note that at no time did any of the stations or newspapers making these awful errors ever check with us about the facts! The first error was that the Mayor of Berkeley issued the order to remove the flags. As noted above, this is absolutely untrue. Then they said that Berkeley firefighters refused to ride on fire trucks that flew American flags. This is also untrue. Something like that happened in Florida, but some news media jumped to the conclusion that it had occurred in Berkeley. At no time did any Berkeley firefighter refuse to ride on a fire truck. Berkeley's firefighters support displaying the American flag on their fire trucks, and now they are doing just that. They feel that flying the American flag honors not only the nation, but also the firefighters who gave their lives in the effort to save lives after the criminal attack on the World Trade Center. I agree."
Mayor Dean said, "the outpouring of opposition to the decision to remove the flags from the fire trucks made a difference." That's very encouraging, and not surprising. I expect the majority of the people of Berkeley agree with Mayor Dean, who is the only member of the City Council representing a city-wide vote of the people. Years of apathy have allowed a minority group of radicals to control the city.
The people now have moved a step beyond just protesting. They are taking action. Let's encourage them. Send an e-mail to the five members of the Berkeley Council joining the Boycott Berkeley movement until they rescind their Pro-Afghan resolution. As the President says: There's only two sides. You are either for the terrorists or against them. The names and e-mail addresses of the five who apparently sympathize more with the terrorists rather than their American victims are:
Linda Maio - maio@ci.berkeley.ca.us - Phone: (510) 981-7110
Dona Spring, - spring@ci.berkeley.ca.us - Phone (510) 981-7140
Kriss Worthington - worthington@ci.berkeley.ca.us - Phone (510) 7170
Maudelle Shirek, - shirek@ci.berkeley.ca.us - Phone: (510) 981-7130
Margaret Breland- breland@ci.berkeley.ca.us - Phone: (510) 981-7120
To send Mayor Dean your condolences for having to cope with city council members who are undermining the city of Berkeley and America: dean@ci.berkeley.ca.us
And, while you are composing e-mail: send one to Sen. Daschle to ask why he is trying to cripple the war on terrorism by blocking the appointment of judges, go to http://daschle.senate.gov/webform.html To call his district office: 605-226-7471
To comment on Banner of Liberty: mmostert@bannerofliberty.com
Pat Leahy's Passive Aggressive Game
Source: CNSNews.com; Published: October 25, 2001
Author: John NowackiLeahy doctrine ensures judicial gridlock
Source: www.washtimes.com/ Author: washtimesSenate's judicial powergrab: Tom Jipping tracks Dems' assault on courts
Source: WorldNetDaily.com; Published: June 28, 2001
Author: Tom JippingDaschle wins struggle over judicial nominations
Source: THE WASHINGTON TIMES; Published: Oct 24, 2001
Author: Dave Boyer
Sounds like a good plan to me.
Then the people should recall and retake their own government. Boycotts should continue until the City Council has been changed. We may be looking at the greatest sea change in political attitudes ever to occur in this country. We must take advantage of this NOW! I believe we have an opportunity to nail the coffin shut on demoncrats everywhere if only we can mobilize and organize the quiet majority that has recently been awakened from their long slumber.
Tom Dasshole is a.
I posted on a similar subject yesterday:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/556240/posts
THIS stuff is really important if WE want OUR President to govern with HIS team on-board!
More articles on this subject:
Obedient Democrats
Source: CNSNews.com; Published: October 26, 2001
Author: Thomas L. JippingOperation Obstruct Justice
Source: Washington Times; Published: October 25, 2001
Author: T.L.Jipping
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/557384/posts
I don't know what it takes to "critical mass" around here but this is important!!!!!
Too much stuff is getting swept under the rug (Gary Condit, etc., etc.) for me to keep quiet.
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