DENVER -- The Democrats aren't the only ones making speeches in Denver.

Green Party presidential nominee Cynthia McKinney, the former Democratic congresswoman from Georgia, was in town to address a large "Stop the War" rally.

Here's her take on what Democrats are calling a "transformational moment" in American politics:

Our country has been hijacked and the Democrats have proven themselves to have been in on the plan. When it came to the Constitution, the Democratic leadership showed us that aiding and abetting illegal spying on us was more important to them than protecting our civil liberties.

When it came to war and occupation, the Democratic leadership showed us that financing an illegal and immoral war, based on lies, was more important to them than the people's desire for peace.

And when the people, hurting from the financial mismanagement of this country, called for accountability for the crimes that have been committed against the people here, against the global community, against nature, itself, the Democratic leadership took impeachment off the table!

Grassroots Democratic Party activists want a livable wage! A "Medicare-for-all" type of health care system, repeal of the Bush tax cuts that have ushered in the greatest income inequality in this country since the Great Depression. But the Democratic Party has shown itself to be incapable of providing even a semblance of the values even of its own activists.

The Democratic Party's national leadership didn't even mention Hurricanes Katrina and Rita survivors in their Congressional agenda for the first 100 days.

The Democratic Party's national leadership gave us the Iran Naval Blockade bill, the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act, and telecom immunity. They continue to fund war and occupation to the tune of $720 million a day while our children graduate from college tens--or even hundreds--of thousands of dollars in debt. Entire cities are going into receivership while the Democratic leadership in Congress gives the Pentagon one half trillion dollars annually with no accountability, no strings attached. That's over and above spending for war.

Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo are the hallmarks of the new U.S. gulag Democrats are helping to create.

They want us to believe that China and Russia are our enemies, in addition to the 60 countries on Dick Cheney's list. They want us to believe that workers, who come to this country to support thier families after Democratic leadership in the country saddled workers with NAFTA, are our enemies. But we are here today to declare that we know who the real enemies are: those false patriots that George Washington warned us of, who wrap themselves in the flag while betraying our values.

We are the true patriots!

We know that the strength of this country lies in the way it countenances dissent. And we are here to dissent. We are not deterred by reports of sleek, new detention facilities or recently-acquired taser guns that kill. For we come to dissent in peace. Indeed, we dissent for peace.

Today, we declare our independence from conformity and "go-along-to-get-along" politics. We declare our willingness to be radical in pursuit of peace and in our hunger for justice. We can see clearly now who the real stickup artists are and that's why we're in Denver!

Our actions here this week begin the disarming of the hijackers. We no longer are afraid. And we won't be deceived. We know that a vote for the Democrats is a vote for more war in Afghanistan and other parts of the world.

But today, we are now free.

Free to stand on the four pillars guiding our political engagement: environmental wisdom, peace, grassroots democratcy, and social justice. And finally, we know our power. We know the power of the people. We know that true power rests in the hands of the people. People who are willing to take a stand.

We need look no further than Hiati, Code,I'voire, Spain, and India to see the power of the people at the ballot box. No further than Brazil, Venezuela, Chile, Argentina, Ecuador, Bolivia, Nicaragua, and Paraguay to know that if they can do it, so can we.

Provided our elections are fair!

And if the Democrats cave in, in the face of fraud, disfranchisement, and theft, then we will be there to demand election integrity!

All over this country, the signs are there. People from New York to Florida, Washington State to California, Colorado to Texas are liberating themselves. We must not stop! Our country is worth it! Let's take our country back! Power to the People!

Comments (11)

1. I have always liked Cynthia!

   Too bad she could not find a way to reform the Democratic party from within - we could sure use her energy and commitment to the progressive cause.

   Posted by Metteyya at 08/27/2008 @ 8:29pm

2. I have been a life long Democrat, but I am looking at the Green Party. At least, they have principles. I am going to vote for Nader in the coming election!

   Posted by P. J. Casey at 08/27/2008 @ 8:43pm

3. Posted by P. J. Casey at 08/27/2008 @ 8:43pm

   If you vote for Nader, you are REALLY voting for McCain.

   I don't think you want to have a repeat of 2000 in which Nader voters handed George Bush the presidency.

   Posted by Metteyya at 08/27/2008 @ 8:56pm

4. If you vote for Nader, you are REALLY voting for McCain.

   It rather depends on where your voting. Certainly any New Yorkers who REALLY want to vote for Nader (who, incidentally, isn't the Green Party candidate this go-round) can probably do so without it being a vote for McCain.

   Bear in mind that the two-party system in this country is, to a great extent, the product of a strong presidential government with a winner-take-all electoral system. There's not much that's doable re that.

   Posted by brunowe at 08/27/2008 @ 8:59pm

5. you could scrap the electoral college to start.

   i'd bet quite an upset frosty if my vote meant less than the minute quantity it currently does.

   Posted by frosty zoom at 08/27/2008 @ 9:13pm

6. you could scrap the electoral college to start.

   i'd bet quite an upset frosty if my vote meant less than the minute quantity it currently does.

   Posted by frosty zoom at 08/27/2008 @ 9:13pm

   Fortunately Frosty, you didn't get to write our constitution. As you know, there is no right to vote for president first of all. Secondly the electoral college is the only guarantee that the smaller states will be involved in our govt. Otherwise California and New York would completely control our elections. If libs think that good now because those states are liberal, they might not find it so comforting if they went conservative.

   The electoral college represents the wisdom of the founders in establishing a constitutional republic. We are not like France or Canada or anyone else. We are a collection of states united as a republic.

   Hopefully we will remain so.

   Posted by lvliberty1 at 08/27/2008 @ 9:30pm

7. Posted by lvliberty1 at 08/27/2008 @ 9:30pm

   Yes....Heaven forbid that democracy might mean "majority rule"

   Posted by leftofcenter at 08/27/2008 @ 9:43pm

8. As you know, there is no right to vote for president first of all.----Posted by lvliberty1 at 08/27/2008 @ 9:30pm

   THEN, Larry, as a "princpled strict Constructionalist" to the Constitution...

   you shouldn't vote for President, should you?

   Since you're not guarenteed that right. To do so in violation of a STRICT interpretation would be the moral equivalency of the LEFT, wouldn't it????

   Posted by Maskdelta at 08/27/2008 @ 10:04pm

9. It is a good thing that changing or eliminating the electoral college would require a constitutional amendment, something that would never pass. You could never get 3/4 of the states to agree because there are a lot of relatively low population states that would never give up their power. It is difficult to bother arguing with McKinney because she is so completely insane that...why bother.

   Posted by pyeatte at 08/27/2008 @ 10:45pm

10. i'd bet quite an upset frosty if my vote meant less than the minute quantity it currently does.

    posted by me.

    hey larry,

    since you live in california,

    your vote for mccain

    IS WORTHLESS!

    vote twice.

    heheh

    Posted by frosty zoom at 08/27/2008 @ 10:56pm

11. There are probably far more true progressives than true Libertarians, but what do you have today? Nothing! Posted by 2HAPPY at 08/27/2008 @ 11:33pm

    That's because like Libertarians it's a two party system and Progressives are not in those parties.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/28/2008 @ 02:18am