Monday, March 19, 2007

This weekend, Jodie Evans and I disrupted a speech by Congresswoman Hilda Solis--it was an amazing experience; you can read my reflections here.

4 comments:

Rachel said...

Thanks for standing up for the right thing, Gayle.

I'm looking forward to a day when I can be more active with CodePink activities. When I get my own place, I hope that will happen then.

Karen Bradley, the DC-based co-founder of Democracy Cell Project - a group I work with - constantly raves about CodePink, and works closely with Gael Murphy.

I left a comment on your CodePink post.

Rach

Donna D said...

You're doing a great job with CodePink, Gayle.

I have a question for you though. I'm not sure what I think about the appropriations bill. I mean, if it ties requirements for bringing home troops as well as for *really* supporting the troops (as opposed to supporting the leaders and the war), then is it all bad?

I mean, shouldn't we adequately equipped and armor troops deployed to Iraq? After four years of deployments, shouldn't we make sure that troops have the time back home that they are supposed to have? Shouldn't we ensure that troops sent to war be properly trained?

By making Bush choose between getting money for funding NOW and bringing troops home by March 2008, aren't we forcing his hand to some degree? If he vetos the bill, he gets no money. If he signs it, he has to start stopping the war now.

Since there's absolutely zero chance of getting all the troops home immediately, isn't this a solution worth considering?

Does that make sense or am I missing something?

Donna

Anonymous said...

I echo Donna's questions. I admire your courage, but I doubt that Nancy Pelosi could halt this war with budget measures or troop-equipment measures or any such Congressional amendments. The more the Democrats get involved in managing the war, the more they must share the blame for whatever happens, and the more muddled the question of how to withdraw becomes. Let Bush and the Republicans have all the responsibility for the failure of the war, build a consensus around getting out under the next President, focus on Democratic issues--preserving our planet, health care, and building financial stability for the not-rich--and rout the Republicans in 2008. Then withdraw. It's not going to happen before then anyhow (unless the Republicans come to their senses, an unlikely event). Let them have the tarbaby. You can't win with Iraq; you can only lose in different and more complicated ways. But with other issues you can win, and change this world for the better.

Tujie said...

Way to go Gayle! Julia
p.s. my daughter (Steph) had something to say about the Codepink sticker on my car she said to me "Don't you know that's the term they use when babies get kidnapped from the hospital, Mom?"