We need to call Smith on this pandering to the radical right. I sent the following message to his office today, and encourage others to let him know their feelings as well

Senator Smith,

It has recently been reported in the press that you intend to follow Senator Frist's lead and vote to do away with the use of the filibuster in the U.S. Senate. As you know, the procedure for accomplishing this unprecedented move requires a finding by the Senate that the use of the filibuster is unconstitutional.

As your constituent, I respectfully request that you identify the specific language in the U.S. Constitution that prohibits the use of the filibuster, which has been employed in the Senate for the better part of the past 200 years.

Also, if it is true that you believe that the use of the filibuster is unconstitutional (as you must, if you are willing to vote to abolish it), do you condemn your colleagues and predecessors who have used filibusters, or do you condone their unconstitutional actions?

And you guys jumped all over me when I asked, do we have any other candidates? Shoot! Do I know who? No. Y'all would know better then me. What about Plan B?

Cool poster! I wonder if W will hang it in his private study while he spends two hours a day playing video games? All work and no play makes POTUS a dull boy.

Charlie, I'll be there!!!

How do you handle right-wing extremists standing in a Star Wars line with you? Try this...

"I went to the 12:21 AM showing of Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith last night. I got there about 11:00 PM and stood in a long line with people of varying ages and walks of life. I met up with a friend who is on mid-tour leave from Iraq, and we hung out together while waiting for the film to begin.... A gentleman of about mid-twenties or so was holding forth on the 'war on terror,' democrats, Jane Fonda, and so on. His listeners appeared to be the same age range as he. "We need to kick these raghead murderers out of the country...kill them wherever we find them...expand Israel all the way to the persian gulf and make Saudi Arabia a subsidiary of Exxon..." His listeners, two of whom were wearing 'OU Young Republicans' t-shirts, were nodding their heads and making generally approving comments. My friend just shook his head and muttered, loud enough for them to hear "fucking ignorant assholes."..."

"..."The guy turned to us and said "I suppose you 'liberals' think we ought to just let the Arabs take over our country and kill all the adults and convert our children to muslim (sic) huh?" Richie--"Not likely in any event, but we don't have an army worth the name anymore, thanks your lord Bush. I'm halfway through a tour over there and I don't see any way we can prevent a civil war, let alone win anything but what do I know? Back here in the land of SUVs and roses, you have a clearer picture don't you?" (I had always thought Richie was a republican--what's up with this?) One of the others said something to the effect that Richie was full of shit, which he countered by producing his leave form and ID card from his wallet. "We're winning. Why else would the insurgents do these large attacks that they know they can't win? It's frustration, or make sure they stay in the news. Things are getting better there all the time, but you probably can't see it at your level." "If we're winning, how come the insurgents are even able to stage these large attacks? If we had that level of control, they wouldn't have any safe assembly areas from which to attack us in any numbers. All we can do is react to them, which means they have the initiative. That's bad," I said. "They're attacking mainly Iraqis now," said one. "They're afraid to come out and fight us" she said. "Three things," said Richie, "one, attacking Iraqis is a great way to start a civil war-that's a lovely thought-a three-way civil war with us in the middle, and two," he said, "they're attacking us more than enough as it is, thank you, and three," he asked, "are you in the military?" "No, but I support the troops and our Commander in Chief," she replied. "Then what's this 'WE' shit? It's not your ass over there getting IED'ed and RPG'ed and shot at and mortared, so who the fuck are you to talk about 'we'?" "Come on, I'm sure the young republicans here all have yellow ribbon magnets on the SUVs their daddies bought them-go easy, man. They support us," I said. (One could, in fact, hear the italics in my voice.) "He's been there, and got the t-shirt," Richie said, making a twirling motion with his finger to me. I turned around so they could see the image on the back of my shirt. "Well, with attitudes like yours, we won't win," one of them said. "Then why don't you join up so you can go over there and show us how it's done?" asked Richie. They looked away. "That's what I thought," he said, "so why don't you all shut your fucking yaps since you don't even believe in your own shit enough to stand up for it?""

Complete story at... http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/5/19/113526/134

AFS - Tell your soldier friend, thank you. And while I might not go to Iraq and fight, but if I was at that movie, I would have his back.

UO Young Republicans making noises in the crowd? Why don't they just wear arm bands with "W" on them?

Thank your friend for fighting the good fight here. We need our soldiers home so the dishonorable deeds of the Reich will not go unchallenged. More of us should stand up and make noise in the crowd about the lies. It won't happen in the pmedia unless your listening to Air America.