We're Takin' It To the Street January 27!

by Dave Lindorff
Jan. 23, 2007

What madness has gripped America?

In November the nation clearly voted, by a margin of some seven million votes, for an end to the interminable war in Iraq and a return to sanity in Washington.

Today, less than three months later, with a new Democratic majority in both houses of Congress, we have the president not pulling troops out, but sending more troops to Iraq, where the death toll is mounting faster than ever (25 U.S. troops killed in one day last weekend alone). And worse yet, a Navy armada is being assembled in the Persian Gulf with the clear intention of attacking Iran, a nation that poses no immediate threat to the U.S.

And where is Congress? So far, mulling a pair of non-binding resolutions expressing Congress’s disagreement with the president's escalation of the war in Iraq.

Wow! That's really telling him!

How can it be that a president who has lost the support of the public--President Bush, in the latest polls, remains at a dismal 33 percent approval rating--is able to lead the country in this way from one collossal disaster to an even worse disaster?

The answer is that we, the American People, are letting it happen.

We have become so disengaged from our government and from the basic concept of participarty democracy that if we do anything at all--and more than half of us don't--we just go to the polls and cast a vote (which may or may not be counted). Having done that, we go back home, recline on our sofas and bitch. Which is to say we do nothing.

Well, we have a chance this weekend to change that.

United for Peace and Justice, ImpeachforChange and other groups have organized what looks likely to be the largest anti-war march on Washington since the days of the Vietnam War--and in mid-winter no less. The march, scheduled for this coming Saturday, January 27, is expected to see people coming in by bus and train from at least 31 states. It will be followed by a massive lobbying of Congress on Monday, Jan. 29.

The lobbying message is that Bush's wars must be stopped--and that the president should be impeached.

Congress knows what it has to do--cut off funding for the war and pass a measure barring the president from attacking Iran without prior congressional approval, and entertain bills of impeachment.

What senators and representatives need is a stern and loud reminder from the public that they can no longer hide behind the flag or behind administration lies. They are going to have to take a stand for sanity and for the Constitution, which they are sworn to defend and uphold.

No one should sit this one out!

Be in Washington on January 27. (If you absolutely cannot go, then join the virtual march.

Tell Congress:

No more war in Iraq! Bring the troops home now!

No attack on Iran!

Impeach President Bush!