Tricounty DFA Update: Thanksgiving Wishes, Impeachment? Washington Co. Party,Bear Pond Destuction, More
Hello Everyone;

First, a Happy Thanksgiving Holiday to you all!

In this update:

1. Grounds For Impeachment, Finally?
2. Overton Window
3. Photographic Proof Of Bear Pond Damage On French Mountain
4. Washington County Holiday Party
5. Friday Night Progressive Film Fest


1. Grounds For Impeachment, Finally?

Drew was first to send this startling piece of news along: Scott McClellan, Bush's former Press Secretary, apparently has an expose book coming out in April. Excerpts were released today that reveal McClellan knowingly lied about the exposure of CIA undercover operative Valerie Plame. What's more, McClellan reveals he knew at the time that Karl Rove, White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card, Lewis Libby, Cheney and Bush knew it was a lie and were in on it.

There are multiple crimes here: lying to Congress, obstruction of justice, conspiracy, perjury as well as a violation of the classification laws that protect the identities of the nation's overseas covert operatives. And unlike Iran-Contra, where Admiral Poindexter took the fall for the Reagan administration's crimes, here there is a direct witness.

McClellan says: "I had unknowingly passed along false information. And five of the highest ranking officials in the administration were involved in my doing so: Rove, Libby, the vice-president, the president's chief of staff, and the president himself."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/11/19/scott-mcclellan-grabs-a-s_n_73386.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7105001.stm
http://apnews.excite.com/article/20071121/D8T1OGD81.html

The BBC quotes Valerie Plame today: "I am outraged to learn that former White House press secretary Scott McClellan confirms that he was sent out to lie to the press corps... Even more shocking, McClellan confirms that not only Karl Rove and Scooter Libby told him to lie but Vice-President Cheney, presidential Chief of Staff Andrew Card and President Bush also ordered McClellan to issue his misleading statement."

Will Congress finally act on this astonishing revelation? Will an actual eye witness account of grave, impeachable high crimes by the Bush administration provoke real investigations? Or will the Democrats in Congress continue to ignore their Oaths of Office to defend the Constitution, and refuse to flip over the rocks in our nation's capitol for fear of what they might find?


2. Overton Window

Something I've been reading about is closely connected to this issue: The Overton Window, and it helps explain why the political dialogue in this country has become so distorted that there can be, as the example above, questions as to how to respond to such news. It's clearly one of the keys to the success of the radical right. "The technique relies on people promoting ideas even less acceptable than the previous "outer fringe" ideas. That makes those old fringe ideas look less extreme, and thereby acceptable."

For instance, 60 years ago we prosecuted waterboarding as a war crime. Today we practice waterboarding. How did we make that move? Legal arguments by people like former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, or Jay S. Bybee, former head of the Office Legal Counsel, that torture simulating the agony caused by "major organ failure" was legal made "mere" waterboarding seem less extreme.

This is a huge part of why impeachment is such a hard sell. The right wing keeps moving the goal posts, which makes the nutty seem extreme, and then, gradually, in time, middle of the road, even commonsensical.

http://commonsense.ourfuture.org/perlsteins_greatest_hits_vol_1_overtons_window?tx=3
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overton_window


3. Photographic Proof Of Bear Pond Damage On French Mountain

Kathy Sonnabend sends this along about damage to Bear Pond on French Mountain. I have put the pictures up on our blog, so that everyone can see for themselves what a huge mess has been made up there, and why the pressure has to stay on! Go to: http://townmeetingday.blogspot.com/2007/11/photoraphic-proof-of-damage-to-bear.html

"Hi everyone,

"Here are just a few of the photos from yesterday morning on French Mountain, that I took from property owned by the Stranahan's and their neighbor, John Hughes. The Macchio's have lowered Bear Pond about 4 feet by damaging the beaver dam, and they have clear cutted mountain slopes and wetlands, leaving significant erosion and debry. This damage was inflicted by the Macchio's on property owned by three neighbors, the Stranahans, the Spellburgs and the Hughes. I am told that the damage on property legally owned by the Macchio's is even worse, and the Macchio's activity has continued despite the June 2006 Queensbury stop work order.

"Dan Stec must be urged to rigorously pursue the town's lawsuit and not drag his heels or settle lightly to please Michael O'Connor. O'Connor has gotten himself into trouble as the attorney involved in the illegal transfer of Stranahan property to Macchio, which was recently overturned by Judge Krogman. It was that ruling which allowed me to tour the returned Stranahan property yesterday morning with John Strough, Tony Metivier and several private citizens. Skip Stranahan is happy to take any of you on a similar tour. If you don't have four wheel drive, Doug Auer is also happy to drive anyone up there to see first hand.

"The town must deal with this decisively and harshly, to prevent this from becoming a precedent in Queensbury that will spoil our vistas and damage our environment. Otherwise, our quality of life will suffer and taxpayers will bear the financial cost of repairing washed out roads and other damage from storm water runoff.

"Kathy"

Again, see the pics at: http://townmeetingday.blogspot.com/2007/11/photoraphic-proof-of-damage-to-bear.html


4. Washington County Holiday Party

Area Democrats (and their supporters) are cordially invited to the Washington County Democratic Committee's annual Holiday Party at the Rice Mansion Inn in Cambridge NY on, Friday, November 30, 2007 at 7:00 PM.

The cost is $30 per person (not tax deductible).

Delicious food and desserts by Spoonful Catering. Wine, beer, soft drinks and coffee included. Silent Auction, Raffle, etc.

For reservations send check made out to the Washington County Democratic Committee to:
Ed Dowling, One Highland St., Greenwich NY 12834
Note: Space is limited so please respond by 11/26/07 - questions: Judy Doonan 692-7215

www.washingtoncountydemocrats.com


5. Friday Night Progressive Film Fest

The Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe continues it Friday Night Progressive Film Fest at 7:30 with:

Fri Nov 23 7:30 pm
RUNNING ON THE SUN (2003) Mel Stuart 102 min. No Grade Available
The Badwater 135 is the most extreme foot-race on earth. The 135 mile course runs over barren desert, taking in three mountain ranges, some extremely tough terrain, and soaring temperatures of up to 130F. With the added perils of flash floods and wind storms along the way, it is a miracle that anyone is capable of finishing the gruelling course. This documentary tracks 13 of the brave, or perhaps foolhardy, runners, and runs the full gamut of human emotions with them, from joy to despair, and elation to disappointment. The pa! rticipants push the limits of human endurance beyond that of most extreme sports participants, and up the ante for enthusiasts of the genre everywhere.


Thanks everyone! Have a happy holiday and drive safely!

Larry

Labels: Bear Pond, Democracy For America, Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area, French Mountain, Glens Falls, Impeachment, Larry Dudley, Queensbury

- posted by Larry Dudley @ 3:09 PM