David Byrne, Former Talking Head on Bush, Cheney, Iraq: I thought, Holy f**k! Can they just do this?

[bigtree]

David Byrne Blasts Bush & Cheney.

4th February 2007 10:57:15

David Byrne Blasts Bush & Cheney.... Pop legend David Byrne has accused President George W Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney of leading America in the same way as the late Saddam Hussein led Iraq.

The former Talking Heads frontman is still shocked at the US-led invasion of Iraq and remains a vocal critic of the war.

He says, "It's like we're in shock. At least I am. The majority of Americans don't want to commit more troops, Congress doesn't want to commit more troops, but George and Dick do and by God they're gonna have it.

"And I thought, 'Holy f**k! Can they just do this?' I thought only people like Saddam Hussein could do those kind of things."

http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/entertainment/David+Byrne+Blasts+Bush+&+Cheney.-29890.html


His mom's an anti-war activist. I met her in 2003 and I heard a tribute to her a week or so ago.



http://journals.democraticunderground.com/bigtree

[babylonsister]

1. I feel exactly the same way; "can they do this"? My next question is,

"who can/will stop them?"

[bigtree]

5. we will, my friend

I'm anxious, but not at all shaken by the pace of the legislators in crafting and emerging with a sufficient rebuke given the balance of power in both houses of Congress. Our leadership is looking for a vehicle with which they can get as many republican defectors to register a vote against Bush's escalation as they are able. It's the ideal point to begin the rollback. Everyone expects after passage of the sense of the Congress resolutions, the binding bills will begin to flood the chambers, with amendments perhaps attached to other bills as they move toward passage.

We can't forget that our Democrats weren't given a large enough majority to just roll over the opposition on these major issues and initiatives. Democrats will do something similar to what Bush tried yesterday when he threw out Democratic initiatives which he'd blocked for the entirety of his term as if to say, bend my way on Iraq and I'll give on these things you say you want. Democrats will have more than enough opportunities to pressure republicans who need to bring home bacon to bend our way on Iraq.

But, unfortunately, it will take time and a careful political strategy which will have to respond and adjust to the certain obstruction. Not impossible, but any meaningful effort is going to have to run the full gambit of tricks and maneuvers against it before it works its way underneath Bush's skin - including impeachment.

[babylonsister]

6. I do have faith in our Dems and 'the process',

I just hope we have enough time. The drums of war are getting louder from everything I read.

[bigtree]

10. I hope folks can come to grips with the real reasons that we're not out of Iraq, besides Bush

The republicans in Congress are still attempting to block the door, even after the drumming they got in November. We need to keep reminding Americans just who is keeping our troops bogged down in Iraq. That'll come from the 'in Bush's face' bills which are expected to be passed in some form. The House has the most power to push through a partisan bill, then the Senate will act. If they manage to get a bill together it will go to a certain Bush veto, barring some scenario-altering catastrophe in Iraq. That veto will be the flashpoint for the legislator's activism, and ours too, as they move to overturn it. That's where the political, constitutional battles will come to a head.

We need all of the undiluted pressure we can manage against the republican enabler/obstructionists.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

11. My next clothing purchases: Several shirts, in varying levels of warmth, with

"Follow The Money", emblazoned on them.


MKJ

[maine_raptor]

8. That should be a post by itself, bigtree.

I'm as much for Impeachment and Removal from Office as a lot of folks around here. And as such, and having lived through "Watergate", I know that such a maneuver will take time. Yes, people are dying out there and it needs to be done fast, but it also needs, and more importantly so, to be done right.

In my humble opinion, what is needed is a spark. The cover-up of the break-in of the DNC Hq, in June of 1972 was the spark that ignited Nixon's downfall. What will be the spark this time? Libby's trial? Hearings into war profiteering? Or something still out there and still unknown?

But something is needed beyond just The War.

Joe Six-Pack needs something simple to hang his approval of Congress's possible removal of this cabal on. He needs something almost "Black and White" in order to gain his support for such a move.

Absent that, down the road, will will see all sorts of spin used against those who did the right thing and removed Bush et al from office.

[bigtree]

13. right. the spark.

wonderful notion.

The Spark.

It's always something which has been right in front of us, something folks have been screaming about all along, but something, some event, some backdoor influence, pushes it to the top of the news cycle and, we're off! All of the rest floods in, affirming the crime and driving the prosecution. It could be Conyers, Waxman, Leahy, Rangel, Murtha, Levin . . . the Spark.

[maine_raptor]

14. One way to generate that spark:

Televised Congressional Hearings.

Are any of the aforementioned planning on such?

[bigtree]

20. a couple

Panel to probe signing statements
CRITICS WORRY ACTIONS BY PRESIDENT BUSH UNDERCUT CONGRESS, EMPOWER WHITE HOUSE

By William Douglas
McClatchy Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - New House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich., used his first oversight hearing Wednesday to say that he is launching an investigation into President Bush's possible abuse of presidential-signing statements.

http://origin.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/16595054.htm?source=rss&channel=mercurynews_local


Waxman Gives Preview of His Oversight Goals

January 31, 2007

'We've got to end this war, we've got to get our troops home, and we have to try to restore our reputation as a country that wants peace,' Democratic Congressman Henry Waxman told a standing-room-only audience in the Palisades Woman's Club Sunday afternoon.

Just two days before his powerful Oversight and Government Reform Committee began holding various hearings on actions by the Bush Administration, Waxman outlined his legislative agenda and his priorities as committee chairman. He has ambitious goals, from 'getting legislation passed to help stop global warming' to having the Food and Drug Administration take over tobacco regulation, 'because cigarettes are a delivery system for the drug nicotine.'

http://www.palisadespost.com/content/index.cfm?Story_ID=2607


Waxman seeks climate inquiry evidence

Tue Jan 30, 5:00 PM ET

WASHINGTON - The Democratic chairman of a House panel examining the government's response to climate change said Tuesday there is evidence that senior Bush administration officials sought repeatedly "to mislead the public by injecting doubt into the science of global warming."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070130/ap_on_go_co/congress_climate_13



Leahy, Specter query White House over Congress's war powers

January 30, 2007

Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) are asking the Bush administration for its views on congressional authority with respect to war.

In a letter to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday asked for the administration's views on this issue, which the lawmakers say is part of the debate over sending additional troops to Iraq.

"What constitutional authority do you recognize resides with the Congress with respect to war?" Leahy and Specter asked. "How do you believe Congress can exercise its authorities? What limits do you believe exist on these authorities?"

Leahy, in a hearing on the issue today, said the Constitution gives Congress extensive authority with regard to war, compared to the president's role as "Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States."

The Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights is holding a hearing Tuesday on Congress's power to end a war.


http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/013007/authority.html


Murtha: Congress has 'power of the purse' on Iraq troop levels
By Mike Faher
THE TRIBUNE-DEMOCRAT (Johnstown, Pa.)

February 01, 2007

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — For more than a year, U.S. Rep. John Murtha has argued vehemently that American troops should be withdrawn from war-torn Iraq.

Now, the Johnstown congressman and his Democratic colleagues may turn to the “power of the purse” to make their point.

Murtha, who chairs a House subcommittee that controls defense funding, said Wednesday that he wants to divert money from President Bush’s troop escalation in Iraq.

That cash instead should be used to revitalize an Army that has been stretched dangerously thin, Murtha said.

“I think, through the appropriations process, we will be able to change the direction of this war,” he told local reporters via videoconference from his Washington office.

http://www.shelbyvilledailyunion.com/features/cnhinspolitics_story_032095811.html

[babylonsister]

15. Let's not forget Fitz; if he can prove

the outing of Plame was caused to divert attention from the lying this admin did to get us into war, that could be a huge 'spark'.

[maine_raptor]

17. Yes, but

if that comes to pass, will anybody on the Hill jump on it? Without some sort of Congressional movement on the matter it will just "hang out" there and be up to "the media" point out and drive home.

If you're going to have impeachment, then such a crime has to be brought into the Hall of Congress and made plain as day. It was Nixon's involvement in the obstruction of the investigation of a common burglary, that brought about his impeachment. Joe Six-Pack could understand that, and therefore approved because a law was clearly broken. Conversely, Clinton's impeachment was over (in Joe's eyes) a blow job. Not as much of a big deal. And therefore public opinion over the crime was unfavorable.

[barbtries]

23. get a REAL investigation of the events of 9-11-01

it'll spark like a controlled demolition of a skyscraper

[liberaldemocrat7]

7. I will stop them.

and so will you, and you and you and you and he and she and the person down the block and your neighbor and the person accross the street.

If you want to stop the Republican party then read these words well.

"The Republican party appears weak and vulnerable at the cash registers of those companies that give them money."


THE MILLION PHONE MARCH.


No Free speech Zones. NO arrests. No marginalization by the press.

You call Republican contributor and war contractor General Electric Corporation 203-373-2211 http://www.ge.com and give them an ultimatum.

GET THE GOP to END THE WAR or WE DON'T BUY YOUR PRODUCTS ANYMORE.

NO CEO WANTS THEIR TELEPHONE LINES TIED UP AND TO GET CALLS FROM THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
EVERY DAY WHILE THEY LOSE MONEY. NO CEO. NOT ONE.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

2. K & R. I think I'll take a listen to "Life During Wartime" now. David Byrne is an artist's artist.

I'm in awe of his ability to maintain his creative originality in spite of being extremely successful in this U.S. of A.

MKJ

[Bonobo]

9. Listen to "Don't worry about the government" while you're at it.

[al bupp]

18. Two Talking Head Classics

Life During Waritme from http://www.talking-heads.net/fear.html">Fear of Music

Heard of a van that is loaded with weapons,
packed up and ready to go
Heard of some gravesites, out by the highway,
a place where nobody knows
The sound of gunfire, off in the distance,
I'm getting used to it now
Lived in a brownstore, lived in the ghetto,
I've lived all over this town

This ain't no party, this ain't no disco,
this ain't no fooling around
No time for dancing, or lovey dovey,
I ain't got time for that now

Transmit the message, to the receiver,
hope for an answer some day
I got three passports, a couple of visas,
you don't even know my real name
High on a hillside, the trucks are loading,
everything's ready to roll
I sleep in the daytime, I work in the nightime,
I might not ever get home

This ain't no party, this ain't no disco,
this ain't no fooling around
This ain't no mudd club, or C. B. G. B.,
I ain't got time for that now
Heard about Houston? Heard about Detroit?
Heard about Pittsburgh, P. A.?
You oughta know not to stand by the window
somebody might see you up there
I got some groceries, some peant butter,
to last a couple of days
But I ain't got no speakers, ain't got no
headphones, ain't got no records to play

Why stay in college? Why go to night school?
Gonna be different this time
Can't write a letter, can't send a postcard,
I can't write nothing at all
This ain't no party, this ain't no disco,
this ain't no fooling around
I'd like to kiss you, I'd love you hold you
I ain't got no time for that now

Trouble in transit, got through the roadblock,
we blended with the crowd
We got computer, we're tapping pohne lines,
I know that ain't allowed
We dress like students, we dress like housewives,
or in a suit and a tie
I changed my hairstyle, so many times now,
I don't know what I look like!
You make me shiver, I feel so tender,
we make a pretty good team
Don't get exhausted, I'll do some driving,
you ought to get some sleep
Get you instructions, follow directions,
then you should change your address
Maybe tomorrow, maybe the next day,
whatever you think is best
Burned all my notebooks, what good are
notebooks? They won't help me survive
My chest is aching, burns like a furnace,
the burning keeps me alive
Try to stay healthy, physical fitness,
don't want to catch no disease
Try to be careful, don't take no chances,
you better watch what you say

Don't Worry About the Government from http://www.talking-heads.net/77.html">Talking Heads 77

I see the clouds that move across the sky
I see the wind that moves the clouds away
It moves the clouds over by the building
I pick the building that I want to live in

I smell the pine trees and the peaches in the woods
I see the pinecones that fall by the highway
That's the highway that goes to the building
I pick the building that I want to live in

It's over there, it's over there
My building has every convenience
It's gonna make life easy for me
It's gonna be easy to get things done
I will relax alone with my loved ones

Loved ones, loved ones visit the building,
take the highway, park and come up and see me
I'll be working, working but if you come visit
I'll put down what I'm doing, my friends are important

Don't you worry 'bout me
I wouldn't worry about me
Don't you worry 'bout me
Don't you worry 'bout me

I see the states, across this big nation
I see the laws made in Washington, D.C.
I think of the ones I consider my favorites
I think of the people that are working for me

Some civil servants are just like my loved ones
They work so hard and they try to be strong
I'm a lucky guy to live in my building
They own the buildings to help them along

It's over there, it's over there
My building has every convenience
It's gonna make life easy for me
It's gonna be easy to get things done
I will relax along with my loved ones

Loved ones, loved ones visit the building
Take the highway, park and come up and see me
I'll be working, working but if you come visit
I'll put down what I'm doing, my friends are important

I wouldn't worry 'bout
I wouldn't worry about me
Don't you worry 'bout me
Don't you worry 'bout ME..........

[PuraVidaDreamin]

3. He's great!

His music quite often reflects his views. His disc from 2 yrs
ago is fabulous, "Tiny Apocalypse" from Grown Backwards and
the whole CD is stellar. His artistic ability also extends
into drawing/painting and are quite complex.

[Wetzelbill]

4. yup, Burning down the house...

:)

[stellanoir]

12. Byrne's Journal

http://journal.davidbyrne.com/

he's brilliant IMHO

he writes about an amazingly wide range of topics

[CrazyOrangeCat]

22. Thanks, ms. stella . . . I'll check it out.

I love getting inside the minds of people who aren't "normal"!

--The New, CrazierOrangeCat:rofl:

[The Backlash Cometh]

16. That's the new national anthem for America:

The first stanza:

"Holy Fuck! Can't they just do this?"

followed by the second stanza:

"Holy Fuck! Are they going to be allowed to get away with it?"

And the chorus:

"We're screwed, we're screwed, we're screwed."

It's a bit repetitious, but you can dance to it.

[NNadir]

19. He wrote the lyric, "Our President's crazy, did you hear what he said?"

I find myself humming that line all of the time.

[CabalPowered]

21. Ah man, I miss the talking heads. Byrne may be strange but he's damn smart

He refused to let Hummer use a TH song not too long ago.