[photo: Mikael Rudolph & Cindy Sheehan]

[IFP does not endorse any federal candidate only encourages accountability of all politicans]

By John Heuer

Pittsboro, NC

The Other National Election

The current financial melt down (faster than the polar ice caps) has commandeered the headlines, while Obama and McCain contest for the scraps of the Bush regime. As the presidential contenders wrestle for elbow space on the front page, the other national race has gone largely unreported.

The Speaker of the House, leader of the Democratic majority party, Nancy Pelosi is campaigning for re-election in California’s 8th District, in San Francisco. Despite record low approval of Congress (even lower than the record low approval rating of GWB) Pelosi has been a popular Congresswoman in her district, and a source of pride as the first woman to hold the Speaker’s gavel.

With typical 90 + % re-election rates for unindicted Congressional incumbents, the phrase “throw the bums out, EXCEPT OUR PORK BARREL BUM” comes to mind. But the loyalty of 8th district voters to Speaker Pelosi is being tested, and warrants our attention.

Why does California’s 8th District Congressional race rank in significance with the presidential contest?

Because Nancy Pelosi has shielded the Bush administration from investigation for a host of alleged crimes including war crimes, crimes against the peace, crimes against humanity, torture and treason. These are not wild allegations. They are well researched and well documented

By taking impeachment “off the table,” Pelosi has implicated herself in all of the crimes alleged to the Bush/Cheney administration, and she has made a mockery of her assertions that she has the power to block impeachment hearings but somehow lacks the power to block war funding. Pelosi speaks with forked tongue.

She has acted as the enabler to continue the crimes of Bush & co., and to avoid any accountability for high crimes and misdemeanors, that cry out for impeachment, indictment and prosecution.

The 2006 midterm election brought forth a new Congress in a historic repudiation of the administration of Bush and Cheney. The electorate demanded an end to the war in Iraq.

Nancy Pelosi was elected Speaker of the House by the new Democratic majority, and moved to overturn the 2006 election mandate by continuing the war policies of Bush/Cheney and blocking every effort to assign accountability for launching a war of choice, a war that failed every test of humanity, honesty, or necessity.

Before the invasion of Iraq, tens of millions of citizens in hundreds of cities all over the world took to the streets to say no to war.

San Francisco voters have an opportunity to put a stamp of NO CONFIDENCE in Speaker Pelosi. She has betrayed the mandate of 2006, and may find herself subject to indictment for endorsing the war policies of George W. Bush, and shielding his administration from charges of war crimes.

Since this is an election of national significance, I urge all Americans to oppose Pelosi’s reelection and endorse Cindy Sheehan for Congress in California’s 8th District. Cindy is for single-payer healthcare, education for all, ending our addiction to oil, a sustainable environment, fair trade, workers and union rights, and ending war as an instrument of foreign policy. Support Cindy’s Challenge to Speaker Pelosi at 416-621-5027 and www.cindyforcongress.org.

John Heuer

Pittsboro, NC