Yearly Archives: 2007

Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch . . .::::::You can be punished for what your government does in your name. ::::::When you allow your government to treat others as you would not want to be treated, do not be surprised if you are treated in the same way by other governments. ::::::Imagine that you are in a foreign country, simply changing planes in an airport on your way to yet another country. You’re just there long enough to walk from one plane to another, but on your way down the concourse men with guns and badges surround you, arrest you, and take you away to prison.::::::Imagine being incarcerated in a foreign land and tried in foreign courts under foreign laws for doing something that is perfectly legal in your own country. ::::::Imagine being arrested in Canada for doing things in America that are legal in America. ::::::Imagine spending years in prison in a foreign country under such circumstances. ::::::All you were doing is changing planes, and BANG, your life comes to a screeching halt. ::::::It could happen to you, because this is what YOUR government is doing to others.

Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch . . .::::::A man named Bernie called my radio show last week. I had just completed explaining what I thought we should do in the Middle East and Iraq. Yet Bernie asked, “What would you do?” ::::::Bernie told me how naive I was to believe war would never happen. But I never said or even hinted that I thought that. I tried to dispel his confusion. ::::::But Bernie wasn’t finished . . .::::::* He suggested the Iraq invasion was a proper response to 9-11. :::* He insisted that Iraq’s WMDs had been moved to Iran or Syria. “We saw them on our satellites,” he said. :::* He claimed the President already has the authority to attack Iran ::::::And where did the President get this authority? Who wants Iran attacked? According to Bernie, God does.

Bernie from Nebraska debuts at the end of this episode. I hope he calls back! Two other callers. ::::::Main topic: Solutions to Iraq. ::::::The show is sponsored by DownsizeDC.org, as well as the Marijuana Policy Project and Gun Owners of America. ::::::

The power and discretion to prosecute individuals in federal court is easily abused. That’s why, until recently, Presidential appointments to the office of U.S. Attorney have always required Senate approval. This check on the executive branch helped ensure that U.S. Attorneys were qualified, competent, and ethical. The President couldn’t staff his Administration with unqualified lackeys – at least not without Senate approval.::::::Since last March, however, U.S. Attorney appointments no longer require Senate approval. Now, the President can fire U.S. Attorneys at will and replace them with whomever he wants. The terms of office of these new appointees expire at the end of the President’s term.::::::How did a law providing for such a drastic change in the appointment process get passed? Why would Senators voluntarily give up their advise-and-consent power?

Todaay’s Downsizer-Dispatch . . .::::::We won!::::::Late last night the Senate voted 55 to 43 to strip the grassroots regulations out of S.1.::::::This is a major victory for the 1st Amendment, for Downsize DC, for our coalition partners, and for small grassroots groups all across the political spectrum. It is a major victory for YOU!::::::As little as three days ago this stunning success seemed impossible. So what happened?

Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch . . .::::::In response to our editorial earlier this week, “What Divides Us,” a reader suggested that we address OMB Watch, and their ilk, directly — explain where they are wrong about the grassroots lobbying provision of S.1. ::::::Our opponents at groups like Public Citizen, Common Cause, and OMB Watch, want to make this a partisan/ideological issue — to divide and conquer. They want to regulate so-called “Astroturf” groups (a funny play on the word “grassroots”), which they maintain are “fake” groups. ::::::The thesis of the recent OMB Watch report, as well as the central claim of an open letter from Joan Claybrook of Public Citizen, is that the new regulations they propose won’t _prohibit_ speech and political activity. ::::::This is an instance of correct facts organized in a fashion that creates the wrong impression. These new regulations may not out-right prohibit, but they will definitely abridge and hurt small, upstart groups. They will chill political participation at the grassroots. AND YOU CAN VOICE YOUR OPPOSITION HERE.::::::Yet, as we’ll explain later in this piece, they won’t really do much to the so-called Astroturf class of groups. ::::::On a more fundamental level, it doesn’t matter whether or not the regulations “prohibit.” We all agree that the Constitution excluded the ability to prohibit the rights in question. But the Constitution goes much farther than that. ::::::And what should unite us is our Constitution and our desire for a healthy democracy where not only the rich and powerful can play, but where everyday Americans can petition their government without reservation. ::::::And so today, I want to make the ultimate argument: I want to break this down to a fundamental level that every American should respect — a Constitutional argument. And we’ll conclude by offering a real solution to the problems these good government groups desire to address.

The Senate could vote today, tomorrow, or Friday on the new grassroots lobbying regulations (Section 220 of S. 1).

As we’ve explained before, these regulations will create a new, expensive burden for DownsizeDC.org — in order to limit your ability to corrupt Congress.

Yes, you are responsible for Congressional corruption by involving yourself with an organization like DownsizeDC.org. Bet you didn’t know that.

We’re supporting Senator Bennett’s Amendment 20, which would remove the regulations of Section 220, which deal specifically with grassroots groups like DownsizeDC.org.

Winning this vote in the Senate is important because

Today’s message is part DC Downsizer philosophy and part open-letter from Downsize DC President Jim Babka to an organization called “OMB Watch.” Take the time to read it, and you’ll see the connections between where it begins and where it ends. And maybe you’ll even want to send a message to Congress. (NOTE: Anyone republishing this article should remove this introductory paragraph)

“What Divides Us”

Late last year an armed man put his children on a school bus, then walked into a schoolhouse in another part of town, took young girls hostage, and proceeded to shoot and kill them. The world watched in the days that followed as those “odd Amish” invited the killer’s wife to their daughters’ funerals, and even more odd, how they attended the killer’s funeral — to support his widow.

There was no tit-for-tat — no cries for vengeance. Odd indeed. Yet the world marveled.

Several years ago, an Irish man lost his son due to IRA violence. He sought out the IRA leaders, but not to get his shot at them. He had a simple message: “It stops with my son. I don’t want your children to be next.” 

Again, the world marveled. 

We have . . . 

* Too much tit-for-tat in our politics.
* Too much revenge motivation.
* Too much political tribalism, which leads people to think if our guys do it, it’s ok, maybe even great; but if their guys do it, it’s stupid, illegal, or evil.

Political tribalism is a poor substitute for listening, for gathering facts, and dare I say it, for thinking.

Frankly, our political tribalism is killing us. The politicians

Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch . . .::::::We’re going to change our plan, by going back to our original plan. ::::::If this Dispatch had a theme, it would be “first things first.” So in keeping with that . . .

Accent Radio Network host Jerry Hughes welcomes me back for my regular Friday appearance.

This show is a great opportunity to spread the DC Downsizer message. Jerry’s audience is getting to know me and that means they’re getting to know Downsize DC.

So today’s action item is