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Tuesday, August 07, 2007
That's so Kuhl
I met Congressman Randy Kuhl for the first time today and I have to admit he came off not so much in President Bush's pocket as I thought he was. Don't get me wrong, he is firmly a Republican with his emphasis on market forces and gun ownership rights, but several times he spoke of how he differed with the president. Here's a few tidbits:
1. The Iraqi War
Kuhl said that the war was in progress before he came into office but that he is "pleased as pleased can be" that the president is now employing more of the Hamilton/Baker strategy.
Kuhl also said he believes that we should engage in talks with Syria and Iran, saying "Absolutely, why not?"
2. Gun control
Kuhl does not believe we need more gun laws on the books in New York state. In terms of curbing urban violence, he seemed as mystified about what to do as anyone else. When I asked him about his opinion on closing gun show loopholes, he was somewhat vague as to what he would do.
3. Protesters
Kuhl said that he wasn't at his offices when the protesters in Bath and Fairport were there. When I asked him if he had ever protested, he said "Yes, when I walked off the floor in Congress recently." I asked if that means he thinks the protesters have a right to do so and he again said "yes, just not over the line." He said that the types of protests have caused him to rethink security at his offices and that means securing doors. He said they are "more protective now" and that he "thought about packing."
He also said that most of the protesters were not from the district but that he offered to meet them at a later time.
Dramatization: kuhl to constituents, “Say hello to my little friend!”
2 comments:
http://www.gp.org/press/states/ca/ca_2007_08_17.shtml
Greens, activists press House Democrats on Iraq War, get arrested
Green Party of California
www.cagreens.org
Contacts: Dr. Robert Vizzard, spokesperson, 916.206 8953, thevizz@earthlink.net
Susan King, spokesperson, 415.823-5524 funking@mindspring.com
Cres Vellucci, press secretary, 916.996-9170 greenparty-press@comcast.net
Sara Amir, spokesperson, 310.270-7106 saraamir@earthlink.net
August 17, 2007
Originally released August 14, 2007
Democratic members of House pressed by Greens, others in their home districts to sign pledge to stop funding the war; Lawmakers refuse, arrest visitors
SACRAMENTO -- California Greens this week continued to help anti-war activists pressure state Democratic Party congressional lawmakers to make good on election year promises to bring state military personnel home by ending the Iraq War, but who so far continue to fund the war instead of stop it.
All across the state this week, as House members return home to their districts during the Congressional break, those opposed to the war are visiting offices of Democrats, demanding they not vote to further war funding in September. Instead of a sympathetic year, people opposed to the war are being arrested.
"The death toll in Iraq, for U.S. and Iraqi civilians, continues to climb and all Democrats can do is claim to be opposed to the it, while funding it," said Daniel Brezenoff, Green Party in the 37th District Special Election. He added that the Green Party opposed the Iraq War since before it began, unlike the Democratic and Republican parties.
Greens were among those at a demonstration last week at the offices of Orange County Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Santa Ana) in Garden Grove. Six people were arrested at the protest after Sanchez refused to sign a pledge to not further fund the war. Sanchez - after saying she was opposed to the war - said she would still vote for more defense monies for the war because there was $2.1 billion for California to build the C-17 Globemaster, a military aircraft.
Tuesday, Greens were among those who organized a People's Town Hall in Sacramento in front of the office of Rep. Doris Matsui (D), and other registered Greens were participating or supporting a hunger strike at the San Francisco home of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D).
Greens also arranged a visit to the office of Rep. Henry Waxman (D-L.A.), where the lawmaker said he did not believe there was enough "evidence" of fraud and deception about the war to warrant impeachment proceedings against Pres. George Bush and Vice-President Dick Cheney.
And, in the San Francisco area, 2006 Green Party congressional candidate (14th CD) Carol Brouillet was arrested along with Daniel Ellsberg and others at Lawrence Livermore Nuclear Weapons Lab in a peace protest memorializing the 62nd anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.
"The war on terror is a fraud. Our best hope is non-violent, widespread opposition to the threats to the constitution and our civil rights, and the world, and for Congress to begin impeachment proceedings to halt (the war) and reverse the policies of the past several years," said Brouillet.
Green Party of California
www.cagreens.org
http://www.counterpunch.com/lindorff07242007.html
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