I send a great many letters to my Representatives and Senators. In response to my pre-generated letters from the like of Working Assets, Moveon.org, and League of Conservation Voters, I receive an automated reply from the Beltway, and everyone is happy. I pretend to fulfill my civil duty by speaking out, and their automated Betty-the-Secretary keeps her job. Just the other night, I participated in a “virtual town hall meeting,” sponsored by Moveon.org, on the topic of Iraq.

Now about this Supplemental Appropriations Bill and the request for $100 billion more dollars to continue fighting an unjust and illegal war- keep in mind that $100 billion dollars is enough to fund the war well into the next administration. I should pull out my speeches by LBJ, so we can all remind ourselves how this political doublespeak goes down in the history books.

“Hurry up and present your stupid bill, so I can veto it, and we can get on with the business of fighting my war.” I am ashamed of a leader, who flaunts his power of veto, while he smirks away at the cameras. It is time to show our little Emperor that he wears no clothes, and instead, we have a congress that is too afraid to do the right thing, for fear of losing their Bureaucratic Beltway Bonuses. The question remains- have we turned out backs on the leaders, or have they turned their backs on us? It is time to do something, and do it loudly.

Why are the Powers-that-Be so hesitant to announce a withdrawal date? Because they are going to milk this cash cow until every last drop, every last penny can be drained out. It enables complicity, staggering foolishly from one excuse or another- weapons of mass destruction, evil dictator, and diplomacy in the region. Meanwhile, the Orwellian oppression of civil rights, not just in these Disunited Estates of ShameriKKKa but worldwide continues unhindered. The public faith in military solutions continues to diminish, on a daily basis. The mere mention of Abu Ghraib or Guantanamo is enough to halt any positive political conversations.