Senator Byrd's Magnum Opus: "The Truth Will Emerge" Speech

This may have been his most masterful speech at a most crucial time, opposing the Iraq War, squarely against Bush, boldly and contrary to political-correctness, implying it was based upon fraud and lies, which is now entirely vindicated. He was in the tiny minority then, but the majority now. The Truth can never bow to a majority against it, even if its an entire nation.

In giving this speech, Senator Robert C. Byrd personally embodied The Truth, by personal example.

This is the difference between a Statesman and a Politician. This was oratory, truth speaking to power, against all odds, and now vindicated. It's a magnificent thing when someone stands for truth--alone!

This work begins with a great poem about Truth, proceeds into expounding the philosophy, states a daring premise against the majority, cleverly communicating that propaganda and intimidation has driven the war issue. The last line is the climax boldly prophesying vindication of the lone speaker.

clipped from onegoodmove.org The Truth Will Emerge by US Senator Robert Byrd Senate Floor Remarks - May 21, 2003 "Truth, crushed to earth, shall rise again, - - The eternal years of God are hers; But Error, wounded, writhes in pain, And dies among his worshippers." Truth has a way of asserting itself despite all attempts to obscure it. Distortion only serves to derail it for a time. No matter to what lengths we humans may go to obfuscate facts or delude our fellows, truth has a way of squeezing out through the cracks, eventually. Regarding the situation in Iraq, it appears to this Senator that the American people may have been lured into accepting the unprovoked invasion of a sovereign nation under false premises. And mark my words, the calculated intimidation which we see so often of late by the "powers that be" will only keep the loyal opposition quiet for just so long. Because eventually, like it always does, the truth will emerge. And when it does, this house of cards, built of deceit, will fall.

RED BYRD: Senator Byrd's CD Release to Revive Mountain Music

The name of this song, one of the West Virginia native songs on Senator Byrd's CD being released, is called Red Bird.

Let's make that Red Byrd instead.

Senate Panel and Rockefeller: The Bush Administration Lied to Start War

This is how the Senate panel and Sen. Rockefeller's report reads to many of us. (How did the LA Times scoop the Charleston Gazette or Daily Mail on this, from our own Senator?) Now it's official, the truth has emerged.

Sen. Jay Rockefeller of the Intelligence Committee made it clear it was not "faulty intelligence" that led to the war (as is the excuse on talk radio), but laid fault and an accusing finger forthrightly with little uncertainty. While he did not use the words in our headline the bolder paraphrase is justified by his own words.

...the administration repeatedly presented intelligence as fact when in reality it was unsubstantiated, contradicted, or even nonexistent

Not much ambiguity in that. Then there is this one too:

There is a fundamental difference between relying on incorrect intelligence and deliberately painting a picture to the American people that you know is not fully accurate.

And especially this one:

...the Bush administration led the nation into war under false pretenses.

But note this:

The report amounts to the most direct rebuke to date of the Bush administration s use of intelligence to build support for the Iraq war. But the DOCUMENT, which catalogs hundreds of statements by administration officials, stops short of calling for any further inquiry or punishment.

Is not this grounds for impeachment--misleading a nation, and Congress, to go to war? What! All this misleading and lying, but no accountability? This is solid grounds for action, albeit late.

Sen. Robert C. Byrd was right, and much earlier than Rockefeller, and stood alone in his famous speech "The Truth Will Emerge". It has now officially emerged indeed, just as the elder Senator foretold:

And mark my words, the calculated intimidation which we see so often of late by the "powers that be" will only keep the loyal opposition quiet for just so long. Because eventually, like it always does, the truth will emerge. And when it does, this house of cards, built of deceit, will fall.

clipped from www.latimes.com Senate panel rebukes Bush, Cheney on prewar Iraq claims Email Picture Matthew Cavanaugh / Getty Images "There is a fundamental difference between relying on incorrect intelligence and deliberately painting a picture to the American people that you know is not fully accurate," said Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. The report, which was supported by some Republicans but criticized by many others, accuses the president and other members of his administration of repeatedly exaggerating the evidence of an Al Qaeda connection to take advantage of the charged climate after the Sept. 11 attacks. "In making the case for war, the administration repeatedly presented intelligence as fact when in reality it was unsubstantiated, contradicted, or even nonexistent," said Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.), the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. "Sadly, the Bush administration led the nation into war under false pretenses."

Facts behind Sunset of Protect America Act; Byrd was Right, Rockefeller Wrong

Good summary here of what just happened: Constitution 1, Bush Government 0.

The best quote is from none other than Senator Byrd, who also puts perspective on it, and unlike Rockefeller (who should now be opposed by Democrats in West Virginia), voted against continuing the anti-constitutional surveillance powers. House leader Pelosi for once was right on the mark, and the Constitution defended, to the people's benefit. Why is the Constitution so often neglected instead of defended like this?

Defending the Constitution and individual liberty is both a duty and part of the republican platform, yet many republicans continue to bow to the tyrant's plea of "necessity". For a republican Constitutional analysis of the Protect America Act see the article here.

“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
-- 4th Amendment, U.S. Constitution

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Quote of the Day:

"Is it any wonder why the approval ratings of the Congress go up every time we go into recess?"
-- Sen. Robert C. Byrd (Democrat West Virginia)

Subject: Victory at sunset

Downsizers sent 47,034 messages to Congress about the so-called "Protect America Act" (PAA). Most of these messages asked Congress to repeal PAA or allow it to sunset.

Three days ago, on Wednesday, we wrote to tell you that the Senate had done the exact opposite of what you requested.

• They did not repeal PAA.
• They did not allow it to sunset.
• They did not pass the amendments we requested that would have made the replacement for PAA less bad.
• Instead, they passed a bill permitting warrantless spying on Americans, and granting immunity to the telecommunications companies that had previously spied on Americans. But . . .

We asked you to hit Congress once again, specifically asking the House to not do as the Senate had done.

• We got what we wanted.
• The Democrats in the House finally showed some backbone.
• They refused to take action on a replacement for PAA.
• This means that PAA sunsetted out of existence at midnight on Friday.

Victory at sunset!

Speaker Pelosi also had some good things to say as she announced the sunset of PAA. She pointed out that the government still retains all the powers it needs to spy on suspected terrorists under the old FISA law, which remains in place. She also talked about the need for the government, and the telecommunications companies, to operate under the rule of law.

You see, Congress may mostly do bad things, but not always. It's important to understand that we can never expect them to do the right thing if we don't tell them what we want. Your 47,034 messages to Congress were important in encouraging the House to do the right thing.

And other things we've done may also have contributed. Downsizers have also sent . . .

• 18,807 messages telling Congress that we are not afraid of terrorism
• And another 18,297 messages asking Congress to pass Ron Paul's "American Freedom Agenda Act."

All of these messages have communicated to Congress that they must not destroy American freedoms for the sake of combating the threat of terrorism.

You are to be congratulated for the part you played in this outcome. But . . .

As the sun sets, it also rises, and there will certainly be attempts by some to restore warrantless spying and immunity for the telecommunications companies. We will have to remain vigilant. I am confident that we -- that you -- will do that.

Please send Congress a message praising the House for allowing PAA to sunset, and ask the Senate to forgo any further action on replacing PAA. You can send your message here.

Thank your for being a part of the growing Downsize DC Army.

Jim Babka
President
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.

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