Limbaugh falsely claimed that Kucinich's Dept. of Peace bill would "[g]et rid of the Department of Defense"
SUMMARY: Rush Limbaugh falsely claimed that Rep. Dennis Kucinich's proposal for a cabinet-level Department of Peace and Nonviolence would "[g]et rid of the Department of Defense." In fact, Kucinich's proposed Department of Peace would operate in addition to the Department of Defense to "develop policies that promote national and international conflict prevention, nonviolent intervention, mediation, peaceful resolution of conflict, and structured mediation of conflict."
On March 16, nationally syndicated radio host Rush Limbaugh falsely claimed that Rep. Dennis Kucinich's (D-OH) proposal for a cabinet-level Department of Peace and Nonviolence would "[g]et rid of the Department of Defense." In fact, Kucinich's proposed Department of Peace would operate in addition to the Department of Defense to "develop policies that promote national and international conflict prevention, nonviolent intervention, mediation, peaceful resolution of conflict, and structured mediation of conflict."
As Limbaugh noted, Kucinich touted the 2003 version of his proposal during his campaign for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination. Kucinich re-introduced the bill in the current Congress.
But rather than eliminating the Department of Defense, as Limbaugh claimed, the bill specifies that the Secretary of Peace would "provide ethical-based and value-based analyses to the Department of Defense" and "advise the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of State on all matters relating to national security, including the protection of human rights and the prevention of, amelioration of, and de-escalation of unarmed and armed international conflict."
Moreover, the Department of Peace's funding would actually depend on the continued existence of the Department of Defense; Kucinich's bill would authorize for the Department of Peace "an amount equal to at least 2 percent of the total amount appropriated for that fiscal year for the Department of Defense."
From the March 16 broadcast of The Rush Limbaugh Show:
LIMBAUGH: Dennis Kucinich -- one of these wacko, lunatic-fringe lefties. He was in the Democratic presidential primary race in 2004. You remember him, Dawn? Yeah, he wanted to establish a Department of Peace. Get rid of the Department of Defense. Establish a Department of Peace, which is what the Department of Defense is. Anyway, he was running around -- it's so bad out there in Democratic circles, he was winning most-eligible-bachelor contests in the Democratic Party.
I was just hoping to chime with that before the our conservative friends do.
Actually, why not instead of a Dept. of Defense, we have a Dept. of War? After all, with the Bush directive of "strike first, ask question later" (i.e. pre-emptive), wouldn't that fit better?
Another note off topic:
Wow, another marathon day for MMFA! 15 posts today as of writing this! The Republican bobble heads are really bouncing now that they realize their agenda is blowing up in their face.
In an effort to post first, LOL.
You gotta remember, 15 is just the ones MMFA could catch.
I can guarantee that the actual amount of conservative misinformation out there is much greater.
When I listen to conservatives like Rush, the amount of misinformation is huge! However, most of it is straight opinion, so a site like MMFA has to forgo these distortions.
Take NPR -- it always has relatively glowing reports about, for example, Bu$h's trips abroad. It's propaganda, and on a deeper level misinformation, but difficult to present as such on this site.
The one I know does about the best job of reporting of any major U.S. media source. I also know of no other that is as openly self-critical as they are at times. Are they always 100% accurate? Of course, not...but for an immediate news source, they do pretty well.
CD
We did have a Department of War (and a Secretary of War) from 1789 until 1949 when it was renamed the Department of Defense in a nice example of what might be called "early modern spin."
I commented in a post yesterday that it sure looks like the Bushies have stepped up the propaganda - the number of misinformation items on MMFA are at least double what they were 3 months ago. It seems that the propaganda machine has really wound up since Christmas ( maybe O'Lielly made a mistake - it wasn't a war on Christmas - it's a war on truth!) These guys are desperate to turn the tide before November. Did anyone notice that the house passed an Iraq funding bill today? somthing on the order of $76Billion which - guess what??? will run out JUST BEFORE the November elections. So?? If anyone votes against additional funding, they can label them unpatriotic and not in support of our troops just before the midterm elections. How convenient for them. A$$holes
...and, whether we like it or not, our tax dollars are being used to disseminate this propaganda.
With the Homeland Security and Bush's "Strike First" policy, all we are left with is the "Department of Offense " ansd we do not need more than a few universities as degrees in law and diplomacy are no longer needed.
I'm going to become a neo-con. And I'm going to rechristen the Dept. of Defense the Dept. of Love. Cruise missiles will be renamed Love Butterflies. Smart bombs will be renamed Love Nuggets. And anyone that doesn't agree with me is a traitor.
Torture? That'll be called "Time Out".
should be struck down by the loving and gentile hand of Your Lord Jesus Christ.
it's so hard to lampoon Limbaugh.
After all, he said: "Establish a Department of Peace, which is what the Department of Defense is."
Given his statement that war-making is peace, love butterflies and time-out aren't parody, Limbaugh-wise. I wouldn't be surprised if Limbaugh doesn't dip into our satire, mistaking it for self-righteous truth.
Whenever anything reasonable is said by the Dems...Limbaugh and O'Reilly, etc will come out and call them "wacko, lunatic-fringe lefties"... gotta pigeon-hole them for the ditto-heads.
It is a primary character flaw of the neocon conservatives... even the use of words like 'non-violence', 'peace' are met with utter disdain and purported to be calling cards of cowards. Of course, the biggest cowards are the ones spewing this hatred across the airwaves and across the country.
Where are our usual dittoheads on this? I guess even they couldn't figure out a way to spin this obvious whopper.
Really, What does Rush know?
My letter to the Department of Peace Group: J____h,
Did you watch that DVD you gave me? The Pentagons New Map & Blueprint for Action?
I did. I thought it was going to be a call for the “New World Order” Illuminati item. Maybe it is?
What I gleaned from Thomas Barnett, was this:
1. Globalization is inevitable.
2.Now that we are in Iraq, as in every war before, there is a missing link in the middle of the plan. Basically, the missing link is; after an attack, there needs to be immediate Peacekeeping and Reconstruction forces. That is the failure of Bush’s plan in Iraq. He had no plan after the initial attack and still does not have a plan. We had the hearts of the Iraqi people after about 5 months when we toppled Saddam. We blew it! That was when we needed more TRAINED Military forces on the ground for peacekeeping and rebuilding.
3.The third contingent is to have a coalition of International Allies to come together and show up in Iraq to demonstrate that is not just white-faced America who wants to see this Country enter the Global World, but all Countries who are already participating in the Global Economic process. We have failed in that third contingent as we did not have the 2nd piece (peace) in place. And, if we ever want to get things right, we desperately need that middle piece.
He suggests that the DOD expenditures would and should be less on the Military Might (as we have that one down pat) and would be more dollars for Peace Keeping and Reconstruction to help the attacked country get back on their feet asap!
If you review Barnett’s materials, it does start to make sense. Like, how Iran could actually be our best ally if only the Bush Admin would rid themselves of the warmongering theory and moved next to the second step. If we had the second step in place, the World would have more respect for America and come together for the third step.
I also just listened to John Murtha on Meet the Press. Murtha is seeing the same mistake. Not enough boots on the ground after the Shock and Awe. He suggests we should have had 500,000 boots on the ground afterwards for Barnett’s very point. Stabilization and clean up the mess to enable the country to get into the 21st century asap!
This is a perfect forum for those who are divided over how things are going. It is a perfect platform to share with, say – R______t. It is an exceptional theory that actually supports what the Department of Peace is trying to include in the puzzle. The Department of Peace is the missing second piece!
Barnett says: It will be the younger generations who will make this happen as the “Older” mindset all around the world is not necessarily in sync with this concept.
And, if we do not get the 2nd piece of the puzzle, will just continue to have war after war with no positive conclusions. Take Iran for instance.
Barnett has a very powerful and rational plan. (or maybe I am just being taken in?).
I’ll get the CD back to you. I honestly think it is an avenue that Politicians like R______t could walk down and entertain the suggestions Barnett makes. Support for a Department of Peace?
I also watched Why We Fight by George Marshall's War Department Frank Capra - producer at Fox & Disney studios Alfred Newman - music
The reasons for going to war in WWII are TOTALLY different than the wars we have seen afterwards.
I have had my doubts and fears surrounding Globalization but obviously: It is inevitable and it could be supported by a Department of Peace or: Fail Miserably with many more deaths than necessary.
You know I hate war, but it seems it has and will continue until the whole world comes together and steps into the 21st Century that will help all prosper.
I still feel that the Bush family needs to be GONE! They are a real stumbling block. Duh? BUSH FAMILY FINANCED HITLER, AUSCHWITZ
Please let me know your thoughts before I receive any more hate-mongering emails towards Muslims, Jews, Christians and on and on..
Love, JJ PS. I may just be off my rocker so this is a group check here?
One day a Department Of Peace could be as highly regarded as you as what you feel about the Department of Defense. However, you are just wrong! The Department of Defense is for defense without the skills of mediation, root cause peaceful solutions. A Department Of Peace offers more than International alternative conflict resolutions it offers funding locally and nationally for preventative education dealing with crimes of all kinds of violence, gangs and drugs/substance, child, domestic and all abuses.
I doubt you agree with violence!