Open thread: Do-Nothing Republican Edition

There's an awesome story in the Nation this week about North Carolina's own, private little mercenary army, led by end-times nutcase Erik Prince:

Blackwater was founded in 1996 by conservative Christian multimillionaire and ex-Navy SEAL Erik Prince -- the scion of a wealthy Michigan family whose generous political donations helped fuel the rise of the religious right and the Republican revolution of 1994. At its founding, the company largely consisted of Prince's private fortune and a vast 5,000-acre plot of land located near the Great Dismal Swamp in Moyock, North Carolina. Its vision was "to fulfill the anticipated demand for government outsourcing of firearms and related security training."

This is some scary stuff.

Despite its central role, Blackwater had largely operated in the shadows until March 31, 2004, when four of its private soldiers in Iraq were ambushed and killed in Falluja. A mob then burned the bodies and dragged them through the streets, stringing up two from a bridge over the Euphrates. In many ways it was the moment the Iraq War turned. US forces laid siege to Falluja days later, killing hundreds of people and displacing thousands, inflaming the fierce Iraqi resistance that haunts occupation forces to this day. For most Americans, it was the first they had heard of private soldiers. "People began to figure out this is quite a phenomenon," says Representative David Price, a North Carolina Democrat, who said he began monitoring the use of private contractors after Falluja. "I'm probably like most Congress members in kind of coming to this awareness and developing an interest in it" after the incident.

Six years of do-nothing Republicans allowing Blackwater to run free on the murky edges of Bush's War in Iraq. It's about damn time Congress started "developing an interest in it." It's about damn time Congress put these Christian soldiers out of business.

The NPR did a story on Blackwater yesterday too. Said they epitomize the shrubs war for profit. Did you know Blackwater was also sent to New Orleans? They will fight any war against black men and brown men....at a profit!

No matter that patriotism is too often the refuge of scoundrels. Dissent, rebellion, and all-around hell-raising remain the true duty of patriots.

Progressive Discussions

Back in November 2004, Republicans tapped Liddy Dole to lead the National Republican Senatorial Committee, seeking to turn her name recognition into dollars to suppport GOP candidates.

Well, we all know how that turned out: Dole raised less money than her Democratic counterpart (it's the first time ever the DSCC has outraised the NRSC) and Democrats won back control of the Senate.

Now, the group that she once helmed, has put her on the vulnerable list. From Political Insider:

NRSC Adds Dole to List of Vulnerable Candidates

Republican leaders in the Senate have included Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R) "in a select group of vulnerable Republican incumbents for whom they are soliciting early and extra financial support," reports Roll Call.

"The leadership has asked GOP Senators to give the maximum primary contribution -- $5,000 apiece -- from their leadership political action committees to Dole and four other in-cycle Senators by the end of the month."

Dole had just $245,000 on hand at the end of 2006.

What a difference a little time makes.

The sharpest criticism often goes hand in hand with the deepest idealism and love of country. - Robert F. Kennedy

today, there was a stunning interview with the author and investigative reporter Jeremy Scahill on his new book Blackwater. Here isa link to the website democracynow.org
to watch. It's in the second half hour of today's broadcast. I highly recommend it.

He talks about legislation introduced by David Price to hold these mercenaries accountable and how it will fall short of that goal.