Comments for Transform25's Weblog http://transform25.wordpress.com Building Democracy in Texas' Congressional District 25 Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:17:40 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on The End of This Campaign by Dan Eckam http://transform25.wordpress.com#comment-53 Dan Eckam Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:17:40 +0000 http://transform25.wordpress.com/?page_id=41#comment-53 I'll probably write you in as my vote anyway. It's either that or abstain... I sure can't vote for any of the losers who are on the ballot. I’ll probably write you in as my vote anyway. It’s either that or abstain… I sure can’t vote for any of the losers who are on the ballot.

]]> Comment on Immigration by transform25 http://transform25.wordpress.com/why-democracy/home/about/immigration/#comment-36 transform25 Fri, 23 May 2008 06:24:06 +0000 http://transform25.wordpress.com/?page_id=14#comment-36 The magnet? huh? The magnet? huh?

]]> Comment on Immigration by tyler hartson http://transform25.wordpress.com/why-democracy/home/about/immigration/#comment-33 tyler hartson Sat, 17 May 2008 22:57:31 +0000 http://transform25.wordpress.com/?page_id=14#comment-33 Its the magnet. You missed it completely Its the magnet. You missed it completely

]]> Comment on The End of This Campaign by Jesse Phelps http://transform25.wordpress.com#comment-31 Jesse Phelps Mon, 12 May 2008 19:29:58 +0000 http://transform25.wordpress.com/?page_id=41#comment-31 I have always been rather disappointed that so few people understand that the USA is not currently a democracy- I appreciate that someone is actually running on a platform designed to put the power back into the hands of the people- and to actually represent their opinions. I have always been rather disappointed that so few people understand that the USA is not currently a democracy-

I appreciate that someone is actually running on a platform designed to put the power back into the hands of the people- and to actually represent their opinions.

]]> Comment on Contact by transform25 http://transform25.wordpress.com/why-democracy/home/be-part-of-the-solution/contact/#comment-26 transform25 Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:42:25 +0000 http://transform25.wordpress.com/contact/#comment-26 Hi Ken, Currently, there is not a phone number for the campaign. Hopefully, we will have one soon. When we do, we will add it to this page. Hi Ken,
Currently, there is not a phone number for the campaign. Hopefully, we will have one soon. When we do, we will add it to this page.

]]> Comment on Contact by Ken Somolinos http://transform25.wordpress.com/why-democracy/home/be-part-of-the-solution/contact/#comment-25 Ken Somolinos Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:41:22 +0000 http://transform25.wordpress.com/contact/#comment-25 My name is Ken Somolinos, and I’m an intern at Congresspedia.org. We’re compiling an online directory for the 2008 Congressional Election, including profiles for each candidate. We want to make sure our readers have the most up-to-date contact information available if they wish to contact the campaign. Is there a phone number contact for the campaign? Thank you in advance, Ken Ken Somolinos Intern, Sunlight Foundation/ Congresspedia.org sunlightuser2@sunlightfoundation.com My name is Ken Somolinos, and I’m an intern at Congresspedia.org. We’re compiling an online directory for the 2008 Congressional Election, including profiles for each candidate. We want to make sure our readers have the most up-to-date contact information available if they wish to contact the campaign. Is there a phone number contact for the campaign?

Thank you in advance,

Ken

Ken Somolinos
Intern, Sunlight Foundation/ Congresspedia.org
sunlightuser2@sunlightfoundation.com

]]> Comment on Scott Trimble For Congress TX-25 by transform25 http://transform25.wordpress.com/why-democracy/home/#comment-24 transform25 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:02:35 +0000 http://transform25.wordpress.com/scott-trimble-for-us-house-texas-25th-district/#comment-24 Carol, No I did not know it was possible, or that it might be useful, to impeach them after their term had expired. I thought the only real reason for impeaching was to lead to a trial, and that the only potential consequences of that would be removal from office. I knew that it was possible to also try them for crimes committed, and that they could theoretically be imprisoned for those. I did not know that we could effectively nullify Bush's signing statements through this process. I knew that we could reverse his executive orders, but thought that the only method for that was through specific legislation in Congress. I have read the Constitution many times (and written some revisions of it, as well as several amendment proposals), and did not get the impression from it that an officer could be impeached after the expiration of the term, or that impeachment would necessarily have these other effects, even if a sitting officer were impeached and convicted. I like the idea, but I have not seen evidence that it is true. I'd love to read more about this. I will check out the links you have provided. Do they offer more about the legal case for post-term impeachment? If not, please send me anything you have on it. As for my assessment of whether Bush and Cheney should be tried for war crimes as well as domestic crimes, there is no doubt that they should. While there may have been an argument to justify the invasion of Afghanistan, at least according to the minimal requirements of international law, there was absolutely no legal justification for the outright war of aggression waged upon Iraq. Certainly, they have violated the Fourth Amendment, the Presidential Records Act, and the Hatch Act. They have authorized torture and extraordinary rendition, and have violated the right of many Americans to habeas corpus. I am not so sure they should be tried for treason. "Treason" is one of those tricky words that people throw around without giving it a proper definition, like "terrorist." Certainly, animal rights and environmental activists who take great pains to avoid killing or even harming others while engaging in destruction, damaging or defacing property are not actually "terrorists" by any definition that existed before the Bush administration (although it would probably be appropriate to call them vandals), but they are now considered such by the government. People use the word treason very loosely, and most people do not understand its meaning. I am not really sure I can say that <em>I</em> understand what it really should mean, what it means in the strictest legal sense, or how its meaning may have changed since 1787. The only accusation that I have known anyone to level at either of these two specific persons that would clearly constitute treason is that they were actually involved in staging the attacks of 9/11 for political gain. While there is some circumstantial evidence that suggests that there may have been inside involvement and/or that the truth is different than what the public has been told, and while they certainly did reap political gain from it, I know of no hard evidence that would link either of them to the acts of that day. I should also note that there is also no evidence that I know of to the contrary, but the burden of proof in our courts is on the prosecutor. If a solid case can be made, then it certainly should. Carol,
No I did not know it was possible, or that it might be useful, to impeach them after their term had expired. I thought the only real reason for impeaching was to lead to a trial, and that the only potential consequences of that would be removal from office. I knew that it was possible to also try them for crimes committed, and that they could theoretically be imprisoned for those. I did not know that we could effectively nullify Bush’s signing statements through this process. I knew that we could reverse his executive orders, but thought that the only method for that was through specific legislation in Congress. I have read the Constitution many times (and written some revisions of it, as well as several amendment proposals), and did not get the impression from it that an officer could be impeached after the expiration of the term, or that impeachment would necessarily have these other effects, even if a sitting officer were impeached and convicted.

I like the idea, but I have not seen evidence that it is true. I’d love to read more about this. I will check out the links you have provided. Do they offer more about the legal case for post-term impeachment? If not, please send me anything you have on it.

As for my assessment of whether Bush and Cheney should be tried for war crimes as well as domestic crimes, there is no doubt that they should. While there may have been an argument to justify the invasion of Afghanistan, at least according to the minimal requirements of international law, there was absolutely no legal justification for the outright war of aggression waged upon Iraq. Certainly, they have violated the Fourth Amendment, the Presidential Records Act, and the Hatch Act. They have authorized torture and extraordinary rendition, and have violated the right of many Americans to habeas corpus.

I am not so sure they should be tried for treason. “Treason” is one of those tricky words that people throw around without giving it a proper definition, like “terrorist.” Certainly, animal rights and environmental activists who take great pains to avoid killing or even harming others while engaging in destruction, damaging or defacing property are not actually “terrorists” by any definition that existed before the Bush administration (although it would probably be appropriate to call them vandals), but they are now considered such by the government. People use the word treason very loosely, and most people do not understand its meaning. I am not really sure I can say that I understand what it really should mean, what it means in the strictest legal sense, or how its meaning may have changed since 1787.

The only accusation that I have known anyone to level at either of these two specific persons that would clearly constitute treason is that they were actually involved in staging the attacks of 9/11 for political gain. While there is some circumstantial evidence that suggests that there may have been inside involvement and/or that the truth is different than what the public has been told, and while they certainly did reap political gain from it, I know of no hard evidence that would link either of them to the acts of that day. I should also note that there is also no evidence that I know of to the contrary, but the burden of proof in our courts is on the prosecutor. If a solid case can be made, then it certainly should.

]]> Comment on Scott Trimble For Congress TX-25 by Carol Wolman, MD http://transform25.wordpress.com/why-democracy/home/#comment-23 Carol Wolman, MD Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:50:22 +0000 http://transform25.wordpress.com/scott-trimble-for-us-house-texas-25th-district/#comment-23 From one candidate for Congress to another- Did you know that it's possible to impeach Bush and Cheney after they leave office, strip them of post office perks and protections, and render illegitimate their signing statements and executive directives? I believe they also should be put on trial for war crimes, and perhaps treason. Do you agree? Peace, Carol Wolman, MD Green Candidate for Congress, CA District 1 www.carolwolmanforcongress.com http://www.youtube.com/user/carolwolman Coordinator, New Broom Coalition http://newbroomcoalition.org Cochair, Impeach Bush-Cheney http://www.opednews.com/author/author20.html http://www.paracove.com/HighCrimes.html From one candidate for Congress to another- Did you know that it’s possible to impeach Bush and Cheney after they leave office, strip them of post office perks and protections, and render illegitimate their signing statements and executive directives? I believe they also should be put on trial for war crimes, and perhaps treason. Do you agree?

Peace, Carol Wolman, MD

Green Candidate for Congress, CA District 1
http://www.carolwolmanforcongress.com
http://www.youtube.com/user/carolwolman
Coordinator, New Broom Coalition
http://newbroomcoalition.org
Cochair, Impeach Bush-Cheney
http://www.opednews.com/author/author20.html
http://www.paracove.com/HighCrimes.html

]]> Comment on Contact by William Cerf http://transform25.wordpress.com/why-democracy/home/be-part-of-the-solution/contact/#comment-18 William Cerf Wed, 26 Mar 2008 01:31:18 +0000 http://transform25.wordpress.com/contact/#comment-18 Hello: I think what you are proposing is fantastic!! Too bad in live in Brooklyn, NY. Oh, well! I want to encourage you to look at a method of governance called Sociocracy. It was developed in The Netherlands and uses circles of people similar to what you envision. They have a website at: http://www.sociocracy.info Hello:

I think what you are proposing is fantastic!! Too bad in live in Brooklyn, NY. Oh, well! I want to encourage you to look at a method of governance called Sociocracy. It was developed in The Netherlands and uses circles of people similar to what you envision. They have a website at:

http://www.sociocracy.info

]]> Comment on Scott Trimble For Congress TX-25 by Missy http://transform25.wordpress.com/why-democracy/home/#comment-16 Missy Mon, 24 Mar 2008 22:59:42 +0000 http://transform25.wordpress.com/scott-trimble-for-us-house-texas-25th-district/#comment-16 I may be partial, but I can honestly say that Scott is a man of character and principle. He has the interest of the people at heart and would make an excellent representative for District 25. He has great ideas and knows how to get things changed. It's time to breathe new life into District 25 and Scott Trimble is the man to do that. I may be partial, but I can honestly say that Scott is a man of character and principle. He has the interest of the people at heart and would make an excellent representative for District 25. He has great ideas and knows how to get things changed. It’s time to breathe new life into District 25 and Scott Trimble is the man to do that.

]]>