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.

If you would like to know more about the activism of CODEPINK and their current efforts on Captol Hill, please watch the video from today’s issue of Washingtonpost.com.

I just read the press release stating the National Organization of Women's support for Hillary Clinton and can not tell you how disgusted I am. Is this 1984??? Hillary does not represent me because she has voted and supported the war since the beginning. She has yet to make stance a for peace. As for NOW, they have lost my support.

In November 2005 as the women of CODEPINK New York were planning our Bird-dog Hillary campaign, we watched the video of Hillary’s March 2003 meeting with CODEPINK in Washington, D.C.

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

I got a call from Samantha at the CODEPINK office last week: “Can you disrupt Pelosi on Saturday?” she asked. Nancy Pelosi was going to be speaking at an event less than an hour from my house. Sam said she'd send me tickets and a banner if I would stand up on my chair during an opportune moment, unfurl the banner, and urge Pelosi to not buy Bush's war. My heart started to pound.

By Medea Benjamin