Don’t immunize corporate criminals

h/t Wolfrum @ Shakesville.

The SHUT UP America Act of 2007

Jeffrey Feldman @ Frameshop presents the

Senate-House Unruly Times & Upholding Principles in America Act
(S.H.U.T. U.P. America Act)

The United States Congress hereby declares that any American citizen–either individually or as a member  of a volunteer citizen association–who feels the need to express a viewpoint about politics in print, in public or otherwise with words and out loud, shall not do so if it risks in any way shape or measure disturbing the delicate sensibilities of the elected members of the state and federal governments.

To wit, should any American be so moved to issue forth in disturbing or indelicate tones, such that may bring about a general or specific assault on the principles of peace and quietude of members of the American government, than such citizen should make every effort to keep such statements to himself/herself, or at the very least to write them down on a piece of scratch paper and then throw it away without making too much noise.

Any mouthy citizen or mouthy citizen group that does uphold this Congressional principle so jointly endorsed will hereby, from this point forward, be condemned by separate non-binding resolutions in each chamber of Congress at regular intervals.

Related post:

• Are US military generals now shrinking violets?

I second the motion

Creature @ State of the Day writes:

Tomorrow, while the iron is still hot, impeachment proceedings must begin against Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Tomorrow, while the ire is up, resolutions must be introduced. Not next week. Not next month. Tomorrow.

Everyone in America who knows anything about the world knows that the attorney general of the United States is a liar and a crook.

Related post:

• Impeach Alberto Gonzales

Pass the Hinchey amendment

WASHINGTON, D.C. — With a vote on medical marijuana looming in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has adopted a formal policy position calling for removal of criminal and civil penalties for seriously ill patients using marijuana with their doctor’s recommendation. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is the second largest cancer charity in the U.S., and the world’s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services.

Blogger for Congress

Mixter writes (h/t Shakes):

So, I’m going to issue this challenge to my readers and fellow bloggers: If you think this liberal Democrat should give Mr. Ryan a run for his money, I’d like you to spread the word. Political bloggers blog because they want to be catalysts for political change and spread their messages through the internets; so, let’s use this medium for all it’s worth! Link this post to every lefty blog you read. Link to this post in a bulletin with your MySpace accounts. E-mail a link to this post to all your friends, families and acquaintances who still believes there’s some hope left for this country and for the way of life we once knew. If we, as bloggers, readers of blogs, and citizens of this nation can make a difference on the netroots level, then by golly, let’s do it!

I pledge to you that I will run against Paul Ryan as a Democrat (no third party — I have faith that we can win our party back as well as our country) if together we can drum up enough interest and commitment, because let’s face it — I haven’t the bank account or the power to do it on my own.

Are we up to the challenge?

Mixter

Michele (Micki) Watters
East Troy, Wisconsin

mixter_64 [AT] yahoo [DOT] com

Update: Never mind.

“Your oath is not to uphold the president.”

Hat-tip Ellroon.

Related post:

• Subornation and obstruction of congressional investigation

It is on the table.

Judiciary Chair of the House of Representatives John Conyers responds to a letter from the attorney representing former White House Counsel (and one-time Supreme Court nominee) Harriet Miers informing the committee that she has been instructed not to appear:

A congressional subpoena, such as the one issued to Ms. Miers, carries with it two obligations: the obligation to appear, and the obligation to testify and/or produce documents. Even if a witness intends to assert privilege in response to a subpoena, that intention to assert privilege does not obviate the obligation to appear.

* * *

A refusal to appear before the Subcommittee tomorrow could subject Ms. Miers to contempt proceedings, including but not limited to proceedings under 2 U.S.C. § 194 and under the inherent contempt authority of the House of Representatives.

Via The Gavel, hat-tip Paul Kiel @ TPM Muckraker.

Pass it on

Would you please take one minute to call your member of Congress and ask him or her to vote in favor of the medical marijuana amendment that the U.S. House of Representatives will be voting on next week?

It’s easy: Just call the Capitol switchboard operator at (202) 224-3121. Give the operator your zip code and ask to be connected to your U.S. House member; you don’t even need to know your congressperson’s name to do this.

When the receptionist for the congressperson — not the Capitol switchboard operator — answers, say something like: “Hi, this is [name]. I live in [city], and I’m calling to ask that my representative vote for Rep. Maurice Hinchey’s [HIN-chee’s] medical marijuana amendment to the Justice Department’s spending bill, which I understand will be considered on the House floor next week. The amendment would prohibit the Justice Department from spending taxpayer money to arrest medical marijuana patients in the 12 states where medical marijuana is legal.”

Please call now: (202) 224-3121

Legislation that nobody liked, finally dies

Good.

Hat-tip Melissa McEwan.

Related post:

• Immigration bill

The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.

Hat-tip Nicole Belle.

Related post:

• Democratic members of congress must restore habeas corpus

Democrats: End the war or your party. Your choice.

Do not pass a funding bill that does not end the war.

Related post:

• Who are these “Dems?”

Update: A special comment from Keith Olbermann (hat-tip Melissa McEwan):

Immigration bill

Harry Reid (on NewsHour tonight):

“One of the things that I like about this bill is there’s so much disagreement. And I say that because no one’s happy.”

Dude, don’t pass the bill.

The idea that a consensus should make everyone unhappy does not make sense. Not at all. And I’m perfectly stoned enough to say so.

It isn’t Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Unhappiness, after all.

If it isn’t made in America…

Litbrit:

Tell Congress in no uncertain terms that you, the American consumer and voter, want Country Of Origin Labels (COOL) legislation enacted immediately. You can contact members of the U.S. Senate here, and the House of Representatives here.

Congress has exclusive authority to issue letters of marque and reprisal

“Congress owes it to the American people to take down the curtain of secrecy surrounding these shadow forces that often act in the name and on the payroll of the people of this country.”

Hat-tip Cookie Jill.