Captain Brian Freeman, An American Hero
The Washington Post today highlighted a truly honorable soldier, Captain Brian Freeman.
Just before Christmas, an Army captain named Brian Freeman cornered Sens. Christopher J. Dodd (D-Conn.) and John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) at a Baghdad helicopter landing zone. The war was going badly, he told them. Troops were stretched so thin they were doing tasks they never dreamed of, let alone trained for.
Freeman, 31, took a short holiday leave to see his 14-month-old daughter and 2-year-old son, returned to his base in Karbala, Iraq, and less than two weeks ago died in a hail of bullets and grenades. Insurgents, dressed in U.S. military uniforms, speaking English and driving black American SUVs, got through a checkpoint and attacked, kidnapped four soldiers and later shot them. Freeman died in the assault, the fifth casualty of the brazen attack.
The death of the West Point graduate
- a star athlete from Temecula, Calif., who ran bobsleds and skeletons with Winter Olympians -has radicalized Dodd, energized Kerry and girded the ever-more confrontational stance of Democrats in the Senate. Freeman’s death has reverberated on the Senate floor, in committee deliberations and on television talk shows.“This was the kind of person you don’t forget,” Dodd said yesterday. “You mention the number dead, 3,000, the 22,000 wounded, and you almost see the eyes glaze over. But you talk about an individual like this, who was doing his job, a hell of a job, but was also willing to talk about what was wrong, it’s a way to really bring it to life, to connect.”
“When I returned from war, almost 40 years ago now, I stood up and spoke from my heart and my gut about what I thought was wrong,” Kerry said on the Senate floor last week as he recounted his meeting with Freeman. “I asked the question in 1971: How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake? . . . I never thought that I would be reliving the need to ask that question again.”
Most of the article is focused on Brian Freeman, an amazing individual who honored all of us with his service to our country.
All I can say in response is: “Message received, Brian. I will do my utmost to honor your commitment and sacrifice.”
So I’m calling all johnkerry.com bloggers: what can you do – what can we do together – to honor Brian Freeman and his many worthy colleagues and support JK’s “campaign for our country”?
Some of the JK bloggers already pitched in at the peace march in DC on Sunday. GV put together this video which features the music of a musician they met there handing out CD’s.
Watch the video and then start brainstorming below. One more death is one too many. What can we do together?
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A group of Kerry bloggers actually brainstormed a bit last night and one of the suggestions was to design bumper stickers with ‘setadeadline.com’.
It would be a start at any rate. The word needs to get out there that people’s voices need to be heard and WILL be heard if they sign up.
Brian Freeman’s death was tragic, and some would say needless. Yes, needless perhaps, but it was not in vain if it somehow serves as one more catalyst to end this horrific war and save many more lives.
My idea is a modest one—we need to make sure that on the blogs and among our family and friends, that the name Brian Freeman lives on. We need to tell his story over and over again—as Dodd said in the article, a number like 3,000 makes your mind glaze over, but when it’s about an individual, it makes the war come home like it wouldn’t any other way. Perhaps we should all e-mail friends with a link to this WP story and how we cannot forget what he said because he paid the ultimate price in Iraq.
He is an American hero in every sense of the word.
I like the bumper sticker idea.
More diaries on different web sites. Solicit more personal stories from people who have been there and know what they are talking about when they talk about the war. Ahm, Perhaps asking some guests bloggers from VoteVets.org to come over and write.
Captain Freeman’s death is a tragedy on top of all the other tragedies of this war. Every day young men and women are crying out for leadership, yet the days pass and we watch as more of their lives are squandered. Bush’s war is immoral and his policy is a failure. End this war and bring our troops home. This is the best way to honor their service.
To honor Brian and all the other brave men and women serving, we must act and the sooner the better.
As Kerstin said some of us bloggers were discussing this just last night and we are ready to get going, every moment we wait is a moment that another story like Brian’s will go on.
Along with bumper stickers, I would like to see ads on the internet. I would also suggest a mailing from Senator Kerry with a flier we can print out.
We must get the American people to “THINK” . I think http://www.setadeadline.com/ is needed for that process to start. Sure we all want the troops home, but it can’t be done in a day or a month or in a few months, that is not reality, the military is just not set up that way. I also like the way Senator Kerry says “Lets bring our heroes home”, that is the right phrasing, and the “now” is not included. “Now” adds so much confusion and if you ask what does “now” mean you get a lot of different answers, none of them with any thought at all.
We can’t count on the media so we have to be it. We started that on Saturday in D.C. and it did go very well, people want to see a clear way out this mess, and I think http://www.setadeadline.com/ ,does just that.
The sleeves are rolled up and we are ready to go.
I think that one (major) thing that needs to be done is to further develop the http://www.setadeadline.com/ website. Perhaps there could be regular updates on what is being done to further the cause in congress and on the grassroots/netroots level, as well as a list suggested action steps that people can take if they want to become actively involved. (Something above and beyond the survey currently on the site.) People WANT to do something but often times aren’t quite sure where or how to begin.
Another idea for a revamped website would be to have a section that features the personal stories of people whose lives have been changed forever by the Iraq War. Setting a deadline is an idea (and a fantastic one), but people are more compelled to act after hearing about the experiences of other people rather than simply hearing about an idea.
I do think the bumper stickers are a great idea, as are flyers and any other method of getting the word out. They should all be relatively simple though, and rather than attempt to tell the entire story, they should point people to the website.
Like Fedup said, we can’t count on the media to give this effort any coverage. It must be “we the people” who take the lead. Thank you Senator Kerry for giving us this opportunity.
P.S. Great video GV!
Brainstorm Ideas For Ending War
1) Bombard President Bush with subliminal messages to end the war. Infiltrate the pictures on his cereal box, magazine covers, dog’s collar…whatever he sees day and night. Even if everyone else sees the same messages because the cereal is mass produced with the pictures, still get the cooperation of manufacturers and media for that purpose.
2) Hypnotize President Bush and suggest End The War. This could be accomplished at a social function or maybe with sleep tapes.
3) Keep up the protests, petitions and pink.
4) Join in daily prayer for the troops safety, the politicians energy and health directed to peace efforts and withdrawal of troops with reparations.
From one vet to another I salute all our fallen heroes. John Kerry has been right all along, “wrong war at the wrong time in the wrong place”. I salute you too, sir! May God Bless all our troops and may Senator Kerry get them out of Iraq soon.
Handouts and educational materials:
What would be really helpful in getting the word out is to have downloadable and printable flyers that can be handed out to people. A flyer and a fact sheet would make it easier to spread the word.
In a discussion, it can be difficult to adequately counter inaccurate information with the facts unless you have good debate skills and a photographic memory. Passing along accurate information is easier to do online where you can use links and copied text. It is far more difficult to do when you are having an online discussion where people can interrupt or tune out.
With a flyer and a fact sheet, the major issues pertaining to Iraq and Senator Kerry’s proposals and legislation (along with a prominent URL to setadeadline.com) could be explained fully in a way that people could understand and take their time to read over. Brian Freeman’s story should be included in the flyer as both tribute and as an example of how we need to get this right for the rest of our brave fighting men and women.
Having a printed flyer also has the benefit that people we give the flyers to can then have the facts to pass on to others without the usual word-of-mouth distortion. This will probably bring more people to the site than anything else I can think of.
I don’t know if this is doable—but back when we were protesting the theft of the 2000 election (feels like a million years ago) a group called Trust The People organized, via the internet, synchronized protests in towns all across the country. I remember they happened weekly, on Saturdays. People would take pictures from their rallies and upload them==the first time I saw that done==and give recaps of the protests.
It was all going rather well, until some kind of right-wing hacking shut it all down. I don’t know exactly what happened b/c I wasn’t in the inner circle==but the people running it became increasingly paranoid and uncommunicative and the movement died.
But that was back when online activists were operating with much less sophistication and security than nowadays. I think it would be worth trying. Maybe Saturdays from 10-11, or 11-12?
I know this would be a big commitment, and it would be IRL—but I thought in 2000, that the strategy had real possibilities. We might be able to make a go of it now.
In 2005/2006, when Senator Kerry’s call to action e-mail was received for his “Kids First Act,” “Deadline For Iraq Citizen Co-sponsor,” and “20,000 Troops Home over the Holidays,” I created a flyer for each plan using the message, doctored abit with a handwritten personal note at the top border prior to printing, and then left the flyers in doors around my neighborhood and elsewhere, also handed them to folks outside health food stores around the university, as well as placing them on vehicle windshields, especially when there was a John Kerry bumper sticker visible.
People I met were happy to accept the printed piece, even asked for additional copies for friends. I think folks like to take something in hand, read it and then act, so I am all for the distribution of flyers.
I see the “setadeadline.com” home page as the front, and the “Brian Freeman, An American Hero” WaPo Article as the reverse of a powerful flyer.
Would it work to have house parties viewing Senator Kerry’s video, with discussions about his resolution and the experiences of those affected by the war, (as Island Blue talked about above) and also distribution of flyers to attendees? Could we do this nationally, using the staff talked about a month or so ago when/if Senator Kerry made a bid for ‘08?
The bumper stickers idea is great, and what about buttons? Am anxious to get to work for Senator Kerry and “Changing our Country” asap.
I really believe that many of the people already want the troops out of Iraq. The ones who don’t - I feel are not going to have their minds changed. I feel like Congress and the Senate are the ones we need to convince to get them out. President Bush isn’t going to listen to anyone - he’s the decider. I think the Senate is the trickier one since the number of democrats and republicans there are so much closer than the house. If nothing happens to get the troops out before 2008, we need to work during that election to get the Senate under even more Democratic control in case we don’t win back the presidency. I don’t know what the chances are of getting enough of the Senate to vote for a proposal that gets the troops out with the near tie in the Senate. And you know, if the Republicans are going to filibuster everything, I’d make good on their threat to put an end to it. How can they complain after all, they threatened to do it every time the Democrats threatened to filibuster.
I know that two Christmases ago, I sent packages to the troops at anysoldier.com. I was careful not to mention anything political - just told them I appreciated their service and sent them things to help pass the time - though it said that letters were what they wanted to most. I think that letters to the troops would be a good thing letting them know we understand what they are sacrificing for us and they are appreciated.
Meg
One more thing (crazy and unlikely as it is to happen)
Impeach Bush and Cheney and then President Pelosi can end the war.
Meg
I’ll have to think about it some more, but anything we can do for Brian Freeman’s kids, and other kids who have lost parents, is probably the most important way to honor these fallen soldiers.
I love the bumpersticker idea. I know “someone” here is good at that sort of thing. If she could make it, I’d be happy to buy a few.
I like the black and white setadeadline.com similar to the image at the end of my video.
Everyone has such great ideas! Time to put them into action!
We can do this, you know.
A lot of great ideas being generated here, they all sound like great effective ways to get momentum and support of this very patriotic movement.
That said, I like the idea of house parties. Flyers, blogging, etc. are great but where would the climate change argument be today without “An Inconvenient Truth”? Certainly it would be a growing movement but a full video presentation attended by interested political “celebrities” is almost unmatchable.
Just think of the passion evoked in a group of 30+ people viewing a documentary attended by their Representatives and Senators who are inside the beltway and need all the local support they can get. It would recipricate and reverberate back to the communities as well IMHO.
Last year when they were asking people to hold house parties for “Iraq For Sale” I didn’t step up, but I should have. I found out later that I could have had a large conference room (that could host up to 125 people) at the local recreation center along with video equipment for FREE. I’ll bet I am not the only one who could find an affordible way to host a significant amount of people.
I think that there are so many people out there who want our involvement in this war to end but just don’t know what to do. By doing something like this I believe you can build grasssroot support that will turn this inactivity into dedicated action.
THe Youtube video that GV and IB put up can use as many hits and comments as possible. Try not to let it get buried.
Another thing that would be good to pass out and spread around are dates of investigations by JK. This may not be very soon but since they may not get much, or enough, coverage, we could let folks know when it will be on CSPAN. Or what date the hearing will be and to check CSPAN for the video. Could also link here or other places to find the info.
Afterwards we could also distribute highlights of the hearing. One side issue is to get more people to get on the web and find out how to access information that is original or reliable. And then find out what is wrong or missing from MSM reporting.
GV,
I’d be happy to make up some bumper stickers (not sure if you were referring to me or someone else, but I’d be happy to help anyway) or just help with the design.
Yes, DD. I was talking about you.
I like the type face at the end of my video.
setadeadline.com
Will you make some for us?
Yes. As long as it is allowed.
Many great ideas…I especially like the bumper sticker idea. Posted yesterday:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
How about ‘setadeadline.com’...
...dark blue background with white lettering? I’d love to ‘advertise’ as I drive down the freeway. And maybe another one that says ‘Campaign for our Country’ with johnkerry.com below it (white background with blue lettering) ??? I need something soon…my old sticker is cracking apart. I was hoping to have Kerry 2008 by now.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
My concerns…
We are really discussing two, separate things..
1) Ending the war in Iraq and promoting setadeadline.com, and
2) Honoring Brian Freeman.
For the first, I think we should be sure any ideas on our part are approved by the Senator.
On the second, I think we have to be careful. We can’t just use Brian Freeman’s story without the support and approval of his family. And it may be a while before they know what, when or if they want to give his name to any action related to the war in Iraq. We must respect that.
As I mentioned on another blog, I live in Temecula where Brian’s family is. There are a LOT of military families here…many very pro-Bush…because it is close to the Marine base at Camp Pendleton.
So you are asking for suggestions on how to honor Brian Freeman and all of our other fallen heroes along with getting more people involved with http://www.setadeadline.com?
How much do you want to spend? Updating the web site is a good idea and the bumper stickers are good. Advertising at the march on Saturday was good also.
I would like to suggest bill boards, radio ads along with space on some popular blog sites.* Also I have an idea or two for a couple of other ways people to get involved as little or as much as they want too.
Remember, not everyone has a computer so I would suggest mailing returnable postcards that act as an extension of the online petition. This of course would require obtaining mailing lists. Or perhaps just mailing the postcards out to those who live around you.
Reach out to universities and talk with the students. My daughter is a member of the young Dem’s at her college and tonight she had a meeting. She spoke to the other students about Senator Kerry, handed out flyers she made with the web site on them and buttons I purchased that state Senator Kerry’s famous words, “How do you ask a man…... ” and then a bold - Bring the Troops Home. These went over well she said. IMO, it is important to create an emotional connection and the buttons seem to do that. They make a statement. I would imagine the web site could be printed on them as well. Also, reach out to other legit organizations that share similar ideals. Some of this is going to require hitting the pavement and not just sitting behind a computer.
*An additional thought about the space on blog sites and creating an emotional connection between our soldiers and those of us who would like to do more for them but don’t know how. During the Vietnam War, many of us wore bracelets and dog tags with the names of soldiers over their fighting. We were suppose to wear them until our assigned soldier came home - one way or another. Now, I am not quite suggesting that idea, but rather the idea of having people purchase a wrist band or ribbons or something popular that symbolize in some way the sacrifices of our soldiers and have the web site printed on them. The bulk of the purchase price going to organizations that support our soldiers. Or come up with our own unique non-profit organization - that assists our soldiers in one way or another. Hey, they could be sold on e-bay to if they caught on.
So, these are my thoughts on the quick.
GV, your video is wonderful. The next best thing to being there.
One of the most important things we can do for Brian Freeman, Pat Tillman, and all the others who have had their lives snuffed out as a result of the current administration’s illegal and immoral war of conquest is to tell the truth about how and where they died—to break through the wall of lies and evasion that the military keeps trying to throw up around the circumstances of their deaths.
The military lied about what happened to Freeman and his 4 kidnapped co-victims until the truth was forced out of them. The military lied about Tillman being killed by friendly fire. The military lied about what happened to the Black Hawk that got shot down with 12 people aboard. The current administration lied to get us into this war, and the military is still lying to keep us from knowing just how horribly botched the whole Iraq adventure has been from the get-go.
We need to keep debunking the lies and spread the truth as far and wide as possible. We need to keep shining spotlights into all the dark and hidden places the administration and its operatives are trying to keep covered up. We need to hold these people publicly accountable for every lie they tell, and keep on doing it until there are no more lies left for them to tell.
We need to investigate, to expose, to break down the lies that we’re being told and the liars who are telling them—to find out the truth and to publicize the truth until no more brave men and women are being forced to die for a lie. In that way we can honor the memory of those who have paid the ultimate price—by doing everything we can to keep their numbers from increasing.
Wow! Great ideas here.
Otter…totally agree about the truth…it must be told.
Wisteria..I especially like the wrist bands and money to the troops.
My other thought is about the children left behind in these families. I think setting up a fund and a way to donate to the children of Iraq vets through one of the Senator’s websites (setadeadline.com or johnkerry.com) would really help those families. Are there still 3 million of us around…I’ll bet we could energize many of the 3 million people on that email list for the kids.
And then ‘campaign for our country’ and the future of those kids…LOUDLY, Senator. 
Ask Now, But Act Soon—asking for input is great, it can help develop a sound strategy and it helps people become invested in the process as well. But every week that goes by is another week in which people are dying needlessly. Gather info rapidly, but then act on that info immediately. Don’t let the initiative fall into the old paralysis-of-analysis trap. Set a deadline for setadeadline.com, and then stick to that deadline. Don’t let the momentum get lost.
Coalition of the Unwilling—this can’t be just one more initiative among many others. Cohesion works, fragmentation doesn’t. Get together with other senators and representatives, other anti-war groups, other organizations that are refusing to let this war go on and make it a united campaign rather than a Kerry-only effort. Cross-pollinate with them on strategy and tactics, include each others’ names and URL’s in what you present. Leave no doubt that this is the will of *all* the people being acted on here.
Put It On Paper—don’t just write about this initiative on the web or in press releases. Make up flyers, signs, bumper stickers—downloadable, pre-printed, all of it. Send them out to anyone and anywhere they can be made use of. Most people still don’t look at political stuff on computers, but they do see signs and they do read slogans when they see it in front of them. Wristbands and buttons are a great way to keep the message in front of peoples’ eyes, too. But don’t charge money for any of it, distribute it at no charge. That way it’ll have twenty times the reach.
Make It Personal—talking about ‘our troops’ is one thing, but talking about ‘Brian Freeman’ hits a lot closer to home. One thing that has kept this war seeming abstract rather than concrete to the folks in the heartland is that most of them don’t have any faces or names attached to it that they can care about. Make it about individuals for them, not just about brigades and battalions. That way they’ll feel the urgency along with the importance of doing this and doing it now. And don’t forget the Iraqis who are caught in this quagmire with us. They’re victims too.
Rock The Deadline—don’t just let this be politicians talking about strategies. Get activist celebrities like Sarandon, Robbins, Penn, Springsteen, et al to step up and add their star power to the power of ideas here. Put their faces on billboards and their voices on the air and their names in print. This has to be a popular movement, not just a policy-wonk initiative. Get everybody talking about it and place their names and likenesses anywhere there is a camera or a signpost.
Visualize and Viralize It—add pictures and sound to your words. Make up catchy-looking ads, quick-hitting video spots, short soundbite stingers, and get them out where people can see them and pass them on. YouTube videos are great. So are clickable banners & promo spots that people can put on their own websites and pass around to their friends. Spend some money and buy ad space and air time, the promotional payoff will be more than worth the investment. Every time somebody turns around, they should be seeing and hearing something that says “Set A Deadline.”
Re-Fund the Troops—include the troops and their families in everything you say and do about this. Make it clear that you are not going to be depriving them of anything; in fact, you’re going to be enhancing it. Restore veterans’ benefits. Put money into services for service members’ families. Make sure that those taking the risks are treated generously rather than penuriously. They’ve earned it, and don’t let anybody take that away from them. And make sure everybody knows how strongly you’re supporting those in harm’s way and their loved ones at home.
Stay On Message—acknowledge the nuances, sure. These are complicated issues, and there are an awful lot of angles to consider in any effort of this kind. But the core message has to be a simple, easily-remembered meme. “Set A Deadline” is great, it’s less vague than just “Bring Our Troops Home”. But you have to keep things simple, keep the messages short & punchy, make it so patently obvious that this is the right thing to do and the best way to do it that nobody can spin it sideways instead.
Take It To The Streets—think outside the beltway and look beyond the blogs. This is a big country and very little of it actually happens onscreen or over a keyboard. Organize & empower every possible activity from big peace marches in Washington to small protests in Peoria. This has to be a national effort with everybody behind it from the grassroots on up. It won’t work if it’s just something happening somewhere else from the top down. People need to see it and feel it in real time where they live, not on CNN.
Make It So—no matter what else happens, it is absolutely critical to turn ideas into action here. People hear way too much hot air from politicians and pundits as it is. If you’re going to set a deadline and bring the troops home, then you have to really do it, not just talk about it. You have to do it emphatically and you have to do it sooner rather than later. Faith without works is dead… and so are more and more of our brave men and women every day that this is allowed to go on.
I am a disabled veteran from the Vietnam era and I am appalled by the care that all veteran receive at any V.A. facility that I been treated at. The lack of qualified physicians especially mental health field, furthermore I was told by a number of V.A. staff members that because of the increasing number of veteran in need of care from this Iraq invasion not a war on terrorism, but instead Bush lies that created this conflict in the first place. The V.A. is underfunded to pay for the best care that veterans rightly deserve. I say if the government cannot provide quality care, than stop sending more troops to die and suffer as I am. Stop funding all wars. I am a strong supporter of Sen.Kerry and my hero. S. Mayer Concord MA.
I have an idea- how about leaving Brian out of the political discussion and simply honor his memory? I served a year there and you people dont understand ths tther troop surger will HELP us gain control of ther capitol, which is the key the country. LEAVE IT TO THE PROFESSIONALS. God Bless Brian Freeman.
Honoring Capt Freeman’s memory includes honoring his wishes, Maj Nichols. Capt Freeman expressed them to Sen Kerry and Sen Dodd. He sought them out to tell his story.
The way I see it, a veteran with 20 years in the Senate and on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is an expert, Major Nichols. Especially given that the only way to resolve the war in Iraq is political, not military. Most experts, military and otherwise, agree on that.
Thank you for your service and your opinion. Both are respected here.
The war is political. There is no getting away from this. However, when the subject of Capt Freeman came up in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, it came up that the best way to honor Brian Freeman, and everyone else who has suffered in that war, is to get the policy right. Senators Hagel, Dodd and Kerry all stressed this. You don’t honor this sacrifice by pretending that everything is okay and we should just ignore what is going on. You honor the sacrifice by getting the policy right.
I was at the dentist today getting a cleaning. The tv in the office was tuned to Fox News and Bush was on, talking about the war and, of course, 9/11. The technician came in, looked up at the screen, and the first thing she thought of was her friend in Chelmsford who is waiting for her son to come home. This kid has been in Iraq, on and off, for 3 years. He is supposed to come home in Feb. His mom has rented a hall for a party to welcome her son home.
However, because of the ‘surge’ that family doesn’t know when he will come home. The technician said they are keeping the reservations for the hall, just in case, but they don’t know if the guest of honor will make it, or have to stay in Iraq. His Mom, by the way, is having health problems that are related to stress. Three years, on and off. Three years of not knowing, not being able to watch the news, having fits when someone rings the doorbell, having fits when the weekly phone call doesn’t come on time.
We have to get this policy right. That is a political solution. We owe the Brian Freemans who are now serving in Iraq that much. We owe them that.
I’m sorry MAJ Tony Nichols. The military has had 4 years to get this mission right; including 2 other mini-surges in Baghdad itself. You of all people should know that losing a battalion (counting dead and wounded) a month, plus all the hardware involved, cannot be sustained for much longer.
To pull this off, this country would have to on an actual wartime footing; a draft imposed and civilian sectors of the economy turned over to armament/battlefield production. That would be the total victory that the president keeps dreaming of; and even at that clip we would have occupy Iraq with tens of thousands of troops for 15 to 20 years easy.
This country will NOT put up with such a plan. Hence here we are, troops give the short end of the rope and told to make do - absolutely irresponsible. God help us if the Iranian Army ever decided to come over the border to help their Shia brethren.
Sending 17,000 troops into a city of 6 million - that Major, should have you very concerned. It does me. It’s time for a new plan; you’ve had 4 years - new plan. Start with the Iraq Study Group and work your way out from there
Senator Kerry, this is where you step in. You are a valuable commodity in all this. Make yourself visible - give speeches, send out videocasts, bumper stickers, talks at Faneuil Hall, hit the talk show circuit, and call out politicians with lousy ideas.
One of the worst I’ve heard so far is Hillary Clinton’s call to cut off funding to the Iraqi military. Are these not the guys we want to take over so we can go home? Lord help us.
Oh yes, one more thing Senator, please go to Brazil and see how this country was able to wean itself from foreign oil. Energy independence has got to go hand in hand with successful Middle East policy, after all it’s oil that has turned the Middle East into a mess.
I really wish you were running for president.
Brave warriors come in all shapes and sizes. Some fight with swords, some with pens. One of the bravest of the pen-fighters lost her final battle yesterday. Molly Ivins passed away after a years-long and very painful struggle with cancer; but in her last column, written just a few weeks before her death, she charged us all to keep on working for the cause:
As my grandpa used to say, “Them’s fightin’ words!” Indeed they are, Molly. Indeed they are.
First of all, tell the whole truth about his death. He may not have died in a “hail of bullets and grenades” at Karbala.
Find out what it was like getting the brass into those SUVs before they were perfidiously killed exection style.
The administration tells us that Iran did it (after floating a lot of other angles on the story).
Why doesn’t someone investigate his death the way that they finally did that of Pat Tillman. Tillman died in an incident of friendly fire.
Don’t use his death—because that is what Bush is already doing.
Find out how it happened in every detail by convening a hearing.
Things move mighty fast in blogospace, folks. It’s a real-time medium. If you’re going to launch an initiative, you’d better be prepared for people to grab it and growl without any lag time.
Within 30 hours of the setadeadline.com site going live on the web, online supporters of the concept had already bought and were running sponsored Google Ads pointing people to the appropriate URL.
Within 48 hours of the setadeadline.com site going live on the web, online supporters of the concept had already set up a site where one can order unofficial merchandise such as t-shirts, bumper stickers, buttons, and other nifty stuff with the appropriate URL on them to help spread the message in offline space as well:
http://www.cafepress.com/setadeadline