My Encounter With Senator Bill Nelson

My encounter with Senator Bill Nelson Wednesday, October 31 2007 by Samm Simpson
Last Saturday I happened to see Senator Bill Nelson in the hallway at the Democratic convention in Orlando. The Saturday night dinner - which I didn't attend - had been in progress for fifteen minutes and Senator Nelson was in a side hallway, looking for an open door. Here's the exchange - to the best of my memory.

The Senator is pulling on a locked side door. I begin to speak.

"Senator Nelson, you know our occupation in Iraq has led to the death of over one million Iraqis. What are you going to do about this? We are controlled by what General Eisenhower told us about, the Military Industrial Complex. . . . it's here!"

The Senator says, "Yes it is." He walks away from the door. I follow.

"What are you going to do about it, and what about nuclear weapons in space? We have criminals running our country, Senator Nelson, they should be impeached!

The Senator smiles, begins to walk down the hall and replies, "We can't impeach the President, look who'd we get."

"I'm not talking about impeaching the President, Dennis Kucinich has a bill, H.R. 333 that will impeach Vice President Cheney. Why won't you support that?

The Senator chuckles. He does not stand still for one moment during this discourse.

I say, "Why are you laughing, this nation is in trouble!"

He dismisses my concern, does a 180 in the opposite direction and while walking away, remarks, "We're on the same side."

He speeds away, still looking for a back door entrance into the Democratic party dinner. I raised my voice as he leaves the area.

"We are not on the same side, you signed the Military Commissions Act last October, you took away the writ of habeas corpus!

The senior Florida Senator disappears. I'm assuming he found an open door leading to the Saturday night dinner at the Democratic State Convention. I'll bet they praised his presence.

Meanwhile, Baghdad burns. The Constitution lies forgotten.

"We the People" are discounted.

Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.

Fascism in Fantasyland - John Russell Booted From FL Dem Convention

On October 27, 2007, John Russell went to the Peace Rally in Orlando, then he went to the annual Florida Democratic Party Convention. John ... all » walked in the door carrying John Edwards signs and said hello to the people at Clint Curtis' table. The two women at the next table said that they were also Edwards supporters, that they were covering up their table, and that he could put some signs there. John introduced himself to them, and one immediately took off to get Mitch Kates.

Mitch came right back, shoved John, and said, "Why are you here. You weren't invited. You have to leave." John asked why, and then the women said that he was putting stuff on their table without their permission. John immediately removed the signs.

Mitch’s physical attack would likely have continued, but Mitch realized that John had supporters with him and that he was on camera. So, Mitch took his overly aggressive behavior down a couple of notches. Obviously, the FDP leadership had planned to exclude John if he showed up at the convention as John did not do anything to cause any disturbance. In fact, he was relatively calm after being pushed hard enough that many people would have struck back.

The FDP leadership knew that others were going to try to remove Karen Thurman as chair. Apparently, Thurman and her supporters did not want John there also calling for her removal. Rather than debate the merits of her leadership, or lack thereof, force was used to silence Russell, one of Thurman’s critics. No wonder Thurman also voted for the infamous “Patriot” Act and the authorization for Bush to use force to start the unconstitutional wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. After all, Thurman also takes money directed to her from Republican lobbyists. Once again, it’s time for a change in the leadership of the Florida Democratic Party, unless you want more of the same.

The full version of the Fascism in Fantasyland video can be seen here.

For more information see:

The video of John Russell asking Karen Thurman about the Miami Herald article.

Michael Collins’ article on Scoop - Florida Citizens Versus Party Insiders