Freedom Rider: Nancy Pelosi, Public Enemy Number One

by BAR editor and senior columnist Margaret Kimberley

"If they were poor and they were sleeping on my
sidewalk, they would be arrested for loitering, but because they have 'Impeach
Bush' across their chest, it's the First Amendment." - Nancy
Pelosi FRPelosiWbush

The Democratic Speaker of the House would like to arrest
activists for loitering. Her Quisling like behavior has led protesters to her
front door in San Francisco, but she has only herself to blame for the
inconveniences she and her rich neighbors now suffer. The great unwashed masses
have a right to assemble at her home, her office, or anywhere else they choose
in order to exercise what is left of their right to speak freely. Her own words
show her level of contempt for the democratic process.

It is clear that Nancy Pelosi's reign as Speaker has been an
absolute disaster for the Democratic party and for the entire nation. Her
eagerness to cooperate with the Bush regime is matched only by her incompetence
in leading Congress. Under her watch, Congress gave Alberto Gonzales, on his
way to riding out of town on a rail, a significant victory by expanding
FISA regulations to allow warrantless surveillance of American citizens.

"Her eagerness to cooperate with the Bush regime is
matched only by her incompetence in leading Congress."

The story of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
debacle has been blamed on Bush. It is true that he once again lied about a
terror threat, but it is not true that Pelosi and the rest of the Democrats
were innocently stampeded. The Democrats had every intention of caving from the
very beginning. Pelosi and the rest of the leadership promised the ACLU and
other civil liberties groups that they wouldn't pass a bill without first
investigating the extent of White House law breaking and without consulting them
first. They did no such thing. As an ACLU
lobbyist put it, "They turned around and
screwed us over - and the Constitution - all at once."

Disappointment in the Democrats, pleas to "grow a spine"
miss the point entirely. Pelosi and her clique have no interest in Democracy.
They go through the flimsiest pretense of opposing Bush when they have no
interest in doing so. Her goal is to preserve the status quo, not to overturn it.

Nancy Pelosi now has stated publicly what she thinks of
us, the citizens of this country. We are an irritant to be tolerated, not
people with rights that must be respected. Pelosi is an omen, a warning that
acceptance of Democrat party actions is the first step on the road to political
hell. It is a lesson that must be learned now, before President Hillary Clinton
takes office.

"They go through the flimsiest pretense of opposing Bush
when they have no interest in doing so."

The fix is definitely in for Clinton to win the Democratic
party nomination. The Democratic candidates' fundraising prowess versus
Republicans is a sign that the big money political donors of both parties are
all betting on the Democratic horse.

Clinton's ascension to the throne now reserved for family
dynasties should not be accepted as an absolute victory. The "middle of the
road" after Bush is still right wing. Triangulation this time around means more
war, New Orleans destroyed and deserted, and more dirty dealings in Congress.

Pelosi, Harry Reid and the rest of what passes for
Congressional leadership have perfected their criminal enterprise. Every act of
treachery is followed by lame excuses for inaction. The truly spineless ones,
progressives wallowing in denial, foolishly whine, asking each other what is
wrong when the answer stares them in the face. The Democratic party is
complicit in killing democracy.

"Civil liberties groups and antiwar groups must finally
realize that they can only play a role in movement politics."

Activists must keep protesting at her house and working for
her defeat in the 2008 congressional elections. They must also cease
cooperating with her. The farce must end before it is too late. Pelosi, like
Bush, has no loyalty to her constitutionally based responsibilities. She must
no longer be treated as though she is a friend when she has proven herself to
be an enemy.

Civil liberties groups and antiwar groups must stop meeting
with Pelosi or her staff. They must finally realize that they can only play a
role in movement politics. It is said that insanity is defined as repeating the
same action over and over yet expecting a different result. Progressives have
waged many righteous battles in the last seven years, but they are about to go
down in history as insane actors in a badly written play.

Activists must begin making demands. They must demand
impeachment, they must demand that New Orleans be rebuilt, they must demand no
further funding for occupation in Iraq or for a new war in Iran. Pelosi and her
co-conspirators must be called out as the back stabbers that they are. Only
then will democracy have any chance of being restored.

Margaret Kimberley's
Freedom Rider column appears weekly in BAR. Ms. Kimberley lives in New York
City, and can be reached via e-Mail at
Margaret.Kimberley(at)BlackAgandaReport.Com. Ms. Kimberley' maintains an
edifying and frequently updated blog at freedomrider.blogspot.com. More of her
work is also available at her Black Agenda Report archive
page.

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