And it's up against the wall American Muthers,
Barbara Bush, who raised her son so well.
Now Dubya's out there smirkin' in God's honky tonk,
Just kickin' soldiers' asses and raisin' hell.
~~apologies to Jerry Jeff Walker

Once a year, George Bush shows up at Arlington National Cemetery and tells a tightly controlled, thoroughly vetted audience that he 'preciates the sacrifice of those who volunteered to die "in freedom's cause." There, surrounded by silent tombstones and armed Secret Service Police, this most infamous of military deserters befouls not only the hallowed ground, but the very air, as he regurgitates words he babbled the year before...and the year before. He reminds us that America is a "reluctant warrior," but we are resolved; our will must not be broken, no matter how many sacrifices it takes.

The scheduled speech by Sen. Hillary Clinton at the “Take Back America 2006” conference in Washington on June 13 is likely to intensify discussion about her relationship with the progressive grassroots of the Democratic Party.

Many weeks ago the conference sponsor, the Campaign for America’s Future, sent out an email telling prospective attendees: “As in years past, we expect America’s most prominent progressive leaders to attend and address the conference. Invited speakers include...” On the list was Hillary Clinton.

In response, I wrote to Campaign for America’s Future co-director Roger Hickey and asked what Clinton’s name was doing on a list of “progressive leaders.” He responded by saying that “I don’t think of ALL of our speakers as ‘America’s most prominent progressive leaders.’ In fact, I have been quoted saying very critical things about Hillary -- in the Washington Post and elsewhere. We do, however, want to ask possible presidential candidates to attempt publicly to justify their candidacy to the progressive activists.”

Hickey also commented that “some people do consider Hillary progressive.”

In October 2005, Liberians elected Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as President, an erudite politician who adopted the popular moniker “The Iron Lady,” after defeating her opponent George Oppong Weah a world soccer star turned politician. This war torn-nation had experienced 14 years of violence and instability. Sirleaf swept a 60% majority votes, securing for herself an enviable place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the first female President in Africa, whose political helm is culturally held by men.

Sirleaf is a 67-year-old Harvard-educated economist and a seasoned politician, with a political stature dating back to her days as finance minister under William Tolbert’s paternalistic rule. Her decades of trials and tribulations under the draconian rule of Samuel Doe, together with a wealth of administrative experience at the United Nations, where she worked during almost 20 years of exile, having escaped the ruthlessness of Liberia’s Charles Taylor, is tangible evidence that Ellen is up to the task.

Nominal leader of the Democrats in Congress Nancy Pelosi, following talking points produced by the Republican National Committee, recently told her fellow Dems to keep impeachment off the table.  This past weekend, the Democratic Parties in Maine, New Hampshire, and Hawaii passed resolutions demanding impeachment.  This, of course, raises the question: Whose table is it, Nancy?

Whose table?  Our table!

These states joined the Democratic parties of Nevada, New Mexico, California, Wisconsin, and Vermont, and the executive committee of the North Carolina Democratic Party (their convention is later this month).  If Texas does it, that'll make 10.  Activists in other states have tried to pass impeachment resolutions but been blocked by their state party's leadership.  Most of the states that have succeeded have done so despite opposition from the leadership. This grassroots energy, along with every poll I've seen, suggests that making the coming elections about impeachment would mobilize lots and lots and lots of Democrats.  Not a shred of evidence supports the RNC-Pelosi claim that it would benefit Republicans.