By David Swanson

The executive director of something called the National Security Network, named Heather Hurlburt, offers — I kid you not, and that’s really her name, so try not to hurl — Six Reasons to Love the Supplemental and Celebrate Progressives in Government.

Hurlburt begins with her own warning not to vomit:

“Usually, there are lots of reasons for progressives not to love supplemental spending bills. And I won’t argue that this one is perfect. But before you read more

By David Swanson

And now abideth funders, broadcasters, and party bosses, these three; but the greatest of these is the party bosses.

Everyone’s familiar with the corrupting influence on Congress of “campaign contributors.” Our system of legal bribery allows senators to openly tell us that single-payer healthcare is not “feasible” for people who want to get reelected, people whose campaigns are paid for by health insurance companies.

Most people are familiar with the read more

To: True Majority, Moveon.org, Open Left, David Sirota, TPM, Campaign for America’s Future, the Center for American Progress, and Daily Kos

The following groups and individuals are working very hard to block a war supplemental bill in Congress that would fund the continued war and occupation of Iraq and an escalated war and occupation in Afghanistan: After Downing Street, American Friends Service Committee, Nick Baumann, Brave New Films, Jennifer Brunner, Brendan Calling, Buzz Flash, Cindy read more

War And Peace

The majority in Congress in the past two elections has been elected to end wars. If you elect me I will put your money where my mouth is. I will vote against funding to support the continuation of foreign occupations. I will oppose any new wars of aggression.

I will vote No on every procedural vote to advance unnecessary wars and occupations. I will work toward the closure of US military bases around the world that are hurting our relations with other nations at great financial expense read more

By David Swanson

Congress members know they were elected to end the war and that their constituents want them to follow through. Fifty-one Democrats recently voted against a war supplemental funding bill, knowing that the bill would easily pass. Now (because an IMF bailout scam opposed by all Republicans has been added to the bill) only about 40 Democrats need to vote No to block the war money. However, voting No when it could actually matter is very different from voting No for show only. We are read more

By David Swanson

On Tuesday President Obama proposed that any increases in federal spending on anything useful, such as healthcare or retirement security, must be balanced by cuts and savings to something else useful, such as healthcare or retirement security.

“The pay-as-you-go rule is very simple,” Obama said. “Congress can only spend a dollar if it saves a dollar elsewhere.” Except that it’s not so simple. Obama would make an exception to allow Bush’s tax read more