Yeah, yeah, I know, “Stand Up and Be Counted” – I do get to that, at the bottom of this page, but due to the crappy blog-format here, it’s hard to post 2 separate thoughts on the same blog without having them appear as separate threads, so if you wanna vote for Censure or Impeachment, you have to wend your way through today’s rant (or, just scroll past my bitchings to get to the politics):
But since I haven’t bitched about my commute in awhile, I will take this opportunity to trash the Lexington Ave line.
Number 4 and 5 trains: you make my life a living hell!
Standing dolefully with several hundred other commuters on the platform at Fulton Street this morning, we watched as 1, then 2, then 3 trains came and went through the station, so packed that no one could board. Regular commuters familiar with the hell that is the green line in Manhattan know what it’s like to squeeze yourself into the subway car when it’s crowded like that, only to then have someone fling themselves in behind you, on top of you, like it’s a fucking mosh pit.
Since I’ve regularly cursed such riders, I didn’t feel that I could so belligerently shove my way onto the train like that this morning. Instead, I figured I’d try something different: this morning, I stood at the doors of the subway car and pleaded with my fellow riders – “on the count of 3, would everyone please take a deep breath?”
Much to my amazement, the entire car inhaled simultaneously and, like Moses parting the Red Sea, there appeared before me a space about a foot in diameter! Smiling to my fellow riders, I stepped inside, leaving those several hundred other doleful commuters still on the platform.
Who said New Yorkers aren’t helpful?
Btw, by 8:30 this morning, I had done several good deeds for my fellow citizens (I felt like that commercial for the army – “we do more by 8am than most people do all day,” or some shit like that. Except I’m not actually killing people, just helping them).
I am so fucking selfless, it’s unbelievable.
First, I helped an elderly woman hail a cab. No big deal, I know. I’m guessing most people in NY have done that at one time or another (unless they’re just real nasty fucks, ala Paris Hilton or Russell Crowe or my stepmother).
Second, I helped a blind man get to an ATM in the bank.
Third, I gave CPR to a man who collapsed on the sidewalk, and kept him ‘breathing’ until the ambulance could get to us.
Ok, not really the 3rd one. But I did help the old woman and the blind man.
I challenge you, nay, I DARE you, to find someone out there who’s more selfless than me, who loves their fellow citizens more than I.
So speaking of civic responsibility (I know, nice segue, right?), I put it to you, the people (or some of them anyway): Impeach or Censure? Thanks to the conveniently provided links, you actually can vote one way or the other.
Sadly, I don’t have enough time today at work to lay out a real persuasive argument for one or the other, complete with informative links (I know you’re as upset about that as I am).
A few weeks ago, I was screaming, ‘Impeachment!’ having downloaded and read Rep. John Conyers (D, MI) 300+ page report to the House Justice Committee (if you wanna read it yourself, click):
http://www.house.gov/judiciary_democrats/iraqrept122005/iraqreptweb.htm I know it’s a long read, but well worth it. Lots of information.
But then I started thinking, ‘what are the chances the Dems are gonna grow a communal spine overnight and come together to take a strong stand on this (or anything for that matter)? And even if they did, they have absolutely no chance of passing it in the Repug-controlled House and Senate.’
And yes, I actually do think in parentheses.
By then, some sort of punitive measures for Dubya was being talked about more on the web and there were reminders of how the movement to impeach Clinton backfired on the Repugs. Quotes began popping up from shifty right-wingnuts about how this is all the Dems want, and how, if they gain seats in Congress they’ll push for impeachment (with Faux News Brit Hume being the most recent ‘pundit’ to level this charge).
With the country going down the tubes, literally, a little more each passing day, maybe most Americans just want something done, about the war, the economy, and aren’t interested in what could be seen as “political maneuvering”.
The fit hit the shan when Russ Feingold, currently in possession of apparently the one set of balls owned by the Dems (passed on to him by Jack Murtha), spoke up for Censure. At that point, he could’ve spoken up for self-genital mutilation, I didn’t care – I was over the moon that a Democrat simply took some initiative and SPOKE HIS MIND, irrespective of what his colleagues or the polls said. If Feingold had said, “kill all cats,” I would’ve gone home to strangle mine.
I started thinking, ‘hmmm….the American public might not go for impeachment, especially in time of war, but I think most people know Dubya lied and would support even a small bitch-slap, like censure, for this slimy excuse of a president'.
Just a few minutes ago, I found this link which reports that a poll conducted on March 15, 2006 by the American Research Group found 46% of voters favor censure (44% oppose it) while 43% actually prefer impeachment (opposed by 50%).
I really am sorry I don’t have enough time now to research this poll a little bit more (I’d like to know how many voters they surveyed, what method they used, etc.) but perhaps one of the more intrepid posters out there will do some homework and let us know about the methodology:
http://www.uruknet.info/?p=m21620&l=i&size=1&hd=0 Which brings us all now to the moment of truth – I’ve included 2 links below. I neither work for nor advocate on behalf of either organization. I’m simply offering what I’ve found on the web: one site is for censure of the president, the other is for impeachment.
For Censure:
http://political.moveon.org/censure/?id=7043-6697303-LX8B70fIBE_AozsYBbWHGQ&t=1 For Impeachment:
https://secure2.convio.net/pepib/site/Advocacy?JServSessionIdr010=9qw1ol3th3.app13a&cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=107 So, pick your poison, folks. Hell, pick both for all I care. But please pick something.
