Lee Amendment: RIP
The Like Maria Said Paz blog has a provocative response to my piece last week about the peace movement’s attitude towards women. She writes,
“You will never hear about attacks on women from MoveOn. They’re too busy burying their noses into the skivies of the military in their jingoistic efforts…when you worship the military to avoid being called unpatriotic, you can’t speak out for the victims of militarization.”
I think that about sums it up. I too have been struggling with the collapse of the Lee amendment to the Iraq war funding bill that the House just passed. What Move On did was heinous, but the real truth is that the Dems have sold the voters who propelled them into office down the river. What remarkable chutzpah to solemnly and sanctimoniously tell us that not supporting a bill that funds Bush’s illegal war would be a vote for Bush. Truly Orwell could not come up with a better example of doublespeak.
Stephen Colbert issued an interesting challenge to Dems last week. He provided them a list of reasons to impeach Bush To wit:
- WMD’s
- Iraq War
- Katrina
- Valerie Plame
- Signing Statements
- Torture
- Wiretaps
- Secret Prisons
- U.S. Attorneys
He ended with this, “I think what the President is saying is that if you don’t impeach me now you guys, you are all a bunch of pussies.” I’m not sure that I would put it that way :-), but truly, how many times does one president have to break the law to be impeached, surely this must be an all-time record. Interesting note–Colbert’s comedic knife apparently cut a little too close to home for the audience, the laughter and applause was distinctly tempered.
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While I absolutely agree with Mr. Colbert’s challenge to impeach George Bush I wonder how, on the Feminist Peace Network, that there is no mention of the fact, when it comes to weakness that the term “Pussy” is not addressed. As a founding member of Breasts Not Bombs I must speak out on the POWER OF THE PUSSY. We are enslaved to the language of men that continues the myth that PUSSY is nothin’ much. Hey! I’d like to remind all us Pussies that not only are we the SOURCE OF LIFE, but we also have the power of pleasure that is tucked ever so perfectly in our pussies. It is the oppression, the control and downright violence against us that prevents us from feeling the ultimate power. Pleasure. It is a magnificent connection to PEACE AND LOVE in the universe, something we say we’re all about. Whether it’s moveon.org or Progressives we’ve got to be creative outrageous, outspoken and deeply connected to our power. We are the only creatures on earth who have a pleasure button in our mighty pussies.
RE the disgusting vote to continue funding the war - and to essentially give a green light to war moves on Iran (and sanctions are definitely part of these war moves…..Lee, Woolsey and Waters were among the 8 who did not vote for the funding. So they, at least, did not back down. But it’s up to people in the streets to get on the streets, the airwaves, etc. and demand an end to this criminal Bush regime and complicity by the Democratic Party leadership! Yes, Impeach Bush and bring an end to this whole agenda!
Colbert is right on impeachment and wrong on use of the word “pussies” - generally used to demean men as being “weak,” “feminine,” etc. And to reduce women to their genitalia. But colbert’s persona on the show as a right-wing Bushite would definitely use the word.