The sub-text in two article presently at Smirking Chimp allude to a common reason why no one should be surprised at the result of the vote for the war funding bill and why it might be difficult for Al Gore, or anyone of substance to run for president, indirectly supporting Maxanne's argument. You might well strike out war funding and Al Gore and substitute disclosing lies, corruption and nearly any of the issues that plague us, the obstacle to correcting them is the same. I'm pasting a very small portion of each article:
http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/7704
http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/7715

Good stuff there Sooner.
And the answer is to use the internet, a forum who's potential has still not been fully utilized.
(insert my Signature here)


Anybody reads this thread hereby gets a rare treat.
I am going to reverse myself, and change my mind.
This is no small thing and I have given this a lot of thought over the past several weeks.
Everything discussed on this forum concerning this topic has helped influence this thinking.

Because of the way things work, we can't effectively advocate the light switch be turned off,
and at the same time require that the light be turned of using specific rules and guidelines.
Doing so only confuses the issue, and the issue it's self only gets lost in the rules. (the rules get more attention than the issue)


To that end, I now support the movement to defund the war.

I see only two options left.

1] Impeach the entire administration

and/ or

2] Turn off the supply of money. Remove the incentive for the war profiteers.


To turn off the light, it must simply be turned off. No discussion of how. Just turn it off.

I still wish to support the troops, and once they are out of Iraq we can refocus on making sure they have what they need.
Hell, we can even refocus the reasons for what they need!



This afternoon I will be writing to all of my representatives explaining my position and why I have come to this conclusion.
I will make the effort to keep it basic and short, to be sure that they actually read it.




Basically, I wish to support our troops, by not giving Bush any more money.
Now we have 4 months to prepare for the NEXT confrontation with Bush over the war.

Crank it up, and let's get busy!
The internet and the netroots could play a critical role in shaping the future.

how then do we hear from, or inform, the poor or many of the elderly?

Yes, the internet is a massively powerful tool, and as it continues to be used, it becomes more powerful.
I believe that we need to continue to DEMAND accountability in the MSM through contacting the sponsors for ineffective and slanted programs that purposely misinform the public. spreading the word about boycotting Murdoch media outlets to those that don't understand that they're reading and listening to propaganda instead of news is worth a strong effort. I've converted many people away from fox's local newscasts by simply showing them the O'Riely factor.

Through the ripple effect.


I talk about it with you in a forum,
we talk about it with others on the forum, and elsewhere. We send e-mails. Make phone calls. Stick bumper stickers.

The others we talk to via e-mail, and who read and discuss with us on forums, they in turn do the same,
and all of us are talking to people alla round us, including those poor people who don't have access.

The more we ramp up the discussion, the farther the ripples will reach.
Ramp up enough, and the MSM will jump it as well. Why? Because it will be profitable for them to do so.

The more we talk, the more people who talk will talk with us, etc etc etc.