Dear All,
What an amazing day. Got settled in last night and up and at 'em at 6:15 am.
One bummmmmmmmmer! Col. Ann Wright was sentenced to 6 months probation (the strictest kind you've ever heard of - she can't even raise her voice near the Hill) - it was a jury trial and just blew everyone's' mind in the room. Check out the video interview with Bill O'Reilly that Deidra posted for the group not too long ago.
When Gen Petraeus spoke in the Senate in September (not the House where I stood on a chair), Ann said "I am a diplomat for peace". She knows Crocker, didn't interrupt anyone..... it was profiling for sure.
The jury was selected in the morning. They found her guilty! (the judge was the same one who recently let Midge off with a $500 fine - Midge was back on the Hill the next day and the judge (a woman) mentioned that when sentencing Ann. "I gave your friend some leniency and she was back here the next day" (Midge didn't do anything but go up there, don't even know how the judge knew that????)
WORST OF ALL, she also got 3 days in jail and they took her away, right there. She looked freaked out, had tears in her eyes. Her sciatic nerve has been so painful it's hard to walk at times. I wasn't there but the group that was came home bummed, bummed, bummed...
Send Ann your good vibes and love. They will give her credit for tonight and she should be home on Friday.
As for today, real quick. I dressed in orange jumpsuit, black chains and hood and joined CodePINK and a Catholic coalition from NY in front of the Supreme Court for the opening arguments on Guantanamo. It was snowing, cold and really awesome. I represented, as usual, Adel Hamad.
Came home to change and spruce up and headed for the Hill at 1:00PM I gave Pink Badges of Courage and a thank you from FFP to Congresswoman Brown and Congressman Hastings. I didn't see them but have uploaded pics with their reps. Both offices were very appreciative.
Then I headed over to Allen Boyd's office (my rep in Tally) and lo and behold he walks out to meet another group. He smiled, gave me a hug and asked what's up - I told him nothing today unless he could get the Senate to filibuster the $45 billion request - he smirked.
Off to Senator Nelson's to let the staff know I was in town - I told them I would be back. Told them FFP is counting on him to fund the troops home.
Then, I attended the Iraq Reconstruction Hearing in Rayburn. I'll report on that more later - basically there is going to be another troop surge, soon and then a civilian surge right after that. Also, they admitted that 1/3 of the funds for reconstruction are lost in the process - "that's about normal for these third world countries" is exactly what they said - we just have to expect that! Probably $100 billion down the drain on that deal.
Walked home in the snow (did I say it was snowing :-D) and rushed right back out the door to the Tree lighting ceremony at the Capitol. I had my cape and a huge pink cowboy hat, we had a good elf and a bad elf, and two other combinations of pink garb, plus a driver and the most awesome Will. We sang our own version of some Christmas carols, handed our peace peppermints and had a great time.
Got home to a wonderful Wednesday night pot luck supper and some "laughter yoga" with Kik (CP from Rhode Island).
I'll be up on the Hill again tomorrow and feel like I should just start going to EVERY Florida reps office, Nelson and Martinez also, and just insisting they stop the war now. I'll come up with something good to present - all suggestions are welcomed.
Medea will be in tomorrow so I'll get the inside scoop on her kidnapping in Pakistan. I do know that they we scared to pieces....
Bye for now L.
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