The collective power of the peace movement helped the Democrats take control of Congress and turn Nancy Pelosi from Minority leader into Madam Speaker. But in May the new Congress turned its back on the peace movement, granting Bush another $95 billion for war with no timetable for withdrawal. While the Speaker of the House herself voted against the war funding, she failed to put pressure on the conservative Democrats to form a united front against another blank check for war. She also failed to effectively use her power to decide what bills would come up for a vote. In the case of both the unrestricted war funding and the expanded FISA wiretapping, Pelosi had the ability to keep the bills off the floor but refused to do so. This Fall, Congress will be faced with a new Bush Administration request for a mind-boggling $200 billion more for war. The American people have had enough of Congressional capitulation. Pelosi's approval rating plummeted from a high of 48 percent in March to 39 percent by August, putting her on a par with Dick Cheney, and Congress' approval is at an all-time low of 18%. So CODEPINK women and men are descending upon Washington this month to whip Congress into shape. We'll ride our representatives until they start to represent us! Everyday, from the opening of Congress on September 4 until the vote on more war funding, CODEPINK will be in Congressional offices, hearings, press conferences, fundraisers and favorite DC "watering holes" to poke, prod and pester our elected officials. CODEPINK has been a near constant presence in DC since we rented a house a few blocks from the Capitol in March. This Fall we will move at an even faster clip. Each day that Congress does not move to bring our troops home, CODEPINK activists will be on Capitol Hill holding our elected officials accountable for not representing the will of the majority of Americans. We hate to say it, but the Democratic leadership could take a clue from Karl Rove (he might be a nasty guy, but he's no dummy). In a press interview as he left office, he gave the Democrats some free advice. He described his politics as building on the energy of the base of the Republican Party and expanding it outward. He mentioned that the Democrats could build on the energy of their base, like the "Pink Ladies", he said, referring to the Code Pink women who dogged him until the day he left office. Instead, the Democrats have been turning potential allies in the peace movement into adversaries—refusing to meet with us, strategize with us or represent us. This August recess, when CODEPINK activists went on a 2-week hunger strike and camped outside Speaker Pelosi home just trying to get a meeting, she not only refused to meet but screamed at the fasters, calling them "nuts." Our advice? Do what the country asked you to do when you were voted into office on November 2006: Stand up to Bush. Lead us out of Iraq. Don't give this administration another blank check for war. Push the Republicans in Congress to break rank with Bush, but also force the conservative Dems to follow your lead. Only vote for, or put on the floor, legislation that sets a fixed timeline for withdrawal or stipulates that funds be used solely for the safe and speedy withdrawal of our troops. Build on the energy and passion of the anti-war movement. Make us your allies, not your adversaries If you can dialogue with Syrian strongman Bashar al-Asad, you can surely meet with and work with the peace-loving Pink Ladies, the Quakers, Veterans for Peace and others who have been the heart and soul of our nation's efforts to end this shameful war. If Pelosi, Reid and the others in leadership won't whip this Congress into shape, you can bet we will. Take the pledge today to whip Congress into shape at www.codepinkalert.org "Whip Congress Into Shape" animation was produced by CODEPINK and created by Mark Farinas and Bad Monkey Studios (www.badmonkeystudios.com

The collective power of the peace movement helped the Democrats take control of Congress and turn Nancy Pelosi from Minority leader into Madam Speaker.  But in May the new Congress turned its back on the peace movement, granting Bush another $95 billion for war with no timetable for withdrawal. While the Speaker of the House herself voted against the war funding, she failed to put pressure on the conservative Democrats to form a united front against another blank check for war. She also failed to effectively use her power to decide what bills would come up for a vote. In the case of both the unrestricted war funding and the expanded FISA wiretapping, Pelosi had the ability to keep the bills off the floor but refused to do so.

Check out this chilling Public Service Announcement from CODEPINK and share the message.  It's time for the Bush regime to stop treating soldiers like toys and bring them home.  The games are over.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vc1ARRgbR N0

Take a look at the Washinton Post video feature from today's issue.  It's the best video representing our work to stop the war so far.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con tent/video/2007/03/28/VI2007032801891.ht ml

Everywhere I look on the internet today, I see that NOW has decided to endorse Hillary Clinton, a Senator who voted for the war and hasn't done anything to stop it.  Thanks NOW, you're not representing peace and the true voice of American women.

Read the latest article about CODEPINK's efforts to expose Hillary's pro-war stance, visit http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007 03/28/151#comment-1043

I have been in many, many congressional hearings in the past several months. And yes, I have acted up, spoken up, been moved to stand up in protest, been removed and threatened with arrest. I have confronted legislators in hallways, following press conferences, in their offices, at events and on the streets of D.C. I have lobbied, monitored, and marched into the teeth of opposition. It is true, I have pushed the envelope and been pushed across the line and onto the floors of the House office buildings. That must be expected when one is working with likes of revolutionaries Medea Benjamin and Gael Murphy. I have not, however, been arrested... before Friday, March 23.

Last week, the House of Representatives passed the "Iraq Accountability Act" giving the President an additional $100 billion to continue the US occupation and associated military operations in Iraq. While this binding measure establishes a deadline for the removal of most combat troops by August 31, 2008, the conditions set forth in the bill fall far short of where Congress should be on their path to bringing the troops home. CODEPINK believes that not one more dollar should be appropriated for continued war and occupation, and will continue to push the position that Congress should only fund the safe, orderly and rapid withdrawal of all troops by the end of this year.

CODEPINK will continue to demand that Congress be accountable to the American people's clarion call last November 7 to end to the war. Despite many expert opinions that say that the US priority in Iraq must be to support political and diplomatic solutions rather than military operations, and yet we are still burdened with an exclusively military strategy and additional funding for war and occupation.
Members of Congress who voted for the supplemental bill see it as the first small step toward the major policy shift we seek. The work of the peace movement, and particularly that of CODEPINK, has been instrumental in moving us closer to our goal to end the war. Speaker Pelosi, talking to the Democratic Caucus on the eve of the vote, mentioned the pressure she herself was getting from CODEPINK camping out on her doorstep! Congress has moved this far only because of public pressure, and reach further, public pressure must and will continue. CODEPINK will now push for the best supplemental bill possible out of the Senate, the best bill possible out of Conference, and the best bill possible from the Defense Authorization that will be coming up in April. CODEPINK continues to fight for better funding legislation that will finally and completely end the US military presence in Iraq.

To learn more about CODEPINK's campaign to stop funding the war, please visit www.dontbuybushswar.org

Capital Police arrested a 26 year veteran of the United States Army
and Reserve as she quietly exited the House Judiciary committee
hearing on the "FBI's Use of National Security Letters." Retired
Colonel Ann Wright voiced opposition to the committee's lack of
oversight before being asked leave by Rep. John Conyers, House
Judiciary Chair. As Wright left the hearing room, Conyers asked
Capital Police to escort her out. Despite orders from Conyers not to
arrest her, Capital Police officers arrested her for exercising her
first amendment rights. She is being processed at the D Street
Station but has not been notified of any charges.

This is the second times in less than a week that a citizen opposing
the Iraq war in Congress was subject to a random arrest. Last
Thursday, CODEPINK Co-Founder Gael Murphy and two other CODEPINK
members were arrested outside the House Appropriations Committee
hearing. As documented on YOUTUBE, Capital Police aggressively
arrested Murphy and prevented citizens from attending the hearing on
the Supplemental Funding for the Iraq War.

Retired Colonel Wright served for 26 years in Army and the Army
Reserves and served 15 years in the Diplomatic Corp. She received theState Department's Award for Heroism as Charge d'Affaires during theevacuation of Sierra Leone in 1997. She resigned from her post asDeputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in 2003 due to heropposition to the war on Iraq. In her letter of resignation to thenSecretary of State Colin Powell Wright explained, "I have served mycountry for almost thirty years in the some of the most isolated anddangerous parts of the world. I want to continue to serve America.However, I do not believe in the policies of this Administration andcannot defend or implement them. It is with heavy heart that I mustend my service to America and therefore resign due to theAdministration's policies".

To learn more about CODEPINK's campaign to pressure Congress to cut the war funding,
please go to www.dontbuybushswar.org or codepinkalert.org

Read more: www.dontbuybushswar.org