Tricounty DFA: Meetup next week, picnics and more
Hello Everyone;

This is a somewhat abbreviated update after the big one Monday; this week:

1. Meetup Next Wednesday
2. August DFA Action Agenda
3. Sign the DFA Downing Street Memo Petition
4. Washington County Picnic
5. Saratoga County Picnic
6. Estate Tax -- & CAFTA?
7. The Rule of Law; real Americans speak

1. Meetup Next Wednesday

You are all invited to our August DFA meetup next Wednesday, August 6th, at 7pm at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe at the corner of Elm and Exchange Streets and Hudson Avenue in downtown Glens Falls, down the street from the Glens Falls Hospital.

There will not be a August Meetup in Saratoga Springs, so all of our DFA supporters in Saratoga and elsewhere are cordially invited to join us in Glens Falls.

2. August DFA Action Agenda

On the Agenda this month is DFA's national action for August. As you know, DFA has been circulating a petition on the Downing Street Memo, which provided the proof the Bush administration lied us into the war in Iraq. We will be receiving copies of these petitions and Burlington is asking us to meet with our Congressional Representatives to present these petitions and demand a full Congressional investigation of the Downing Street Memo, all the lies that got us into Iraq and, clearly now as well, the "Plamegate" scandal, which is ultimately about Bush's fear his lie would be exposed.

3. Sign the DFA Downing Street Memo Petition

If you haven't signed the DSM petition, please do so immediately. It is at: http://petition.democracyforamerica.com/page/petition/downing
with more info at: http://democracyforamerica.com/memo_movie.php Forward this along to anyone you think might sign. We have 40,000 signatures and counting.

4. Washington County Picnic

Join the Washington County Democratic Committee at its Fifth Annual Picnic on Saturday, July 30th from 10 am until 5 pm at the Lake Lauderdale Pavilion in the town of Jackson. There will be potluck picnic fare and music throughout the day. Guests of honor will begin speaking at noon and include: Tracey Brooks, from Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s office; Stu Brody, Chair of the Democratic
Rural Conference; Caroline Griffin, upstate coordinator of the NYS Democratic Committee; and John Byrne, President of the NYS Young Rural Democrats. Candidates seeking the 2006 nominations scheduled to attend include: Lt. Governor candidates: Tom DiNapoli, Joe Ruggiero, and Dr. Jon Cohen; NYS Attorney General candidates: Denise O’Donnell and Sean Patrick Maloney. Democratic candidates for the local 2005 elections will also attend. We'll supply beer, soda, hot dogs and burgers, you bring side dishes, chairs and blankets.
Cost: $15 per person or $25 per couple, students: $6. For tickets, contact a town chair or Sheila Comar at 642-9566.

5. Saratoga County Picnic

On Sunday, July 31, in conjunction with the Ballston Democrats the Saratoga County and Ballston Democrats will be holding a Chicken BBQ. Guest include; State Chair Herman "Denny" Farrell, Assemblyman Bob Reilly, and featured guest, New York's next Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. Come and meet all of the Democrats running for office in this years local election and let's show strong support to all of our future Leaders! Time is noon to 4pm at the Lake Side Farm Cider Mill in Ballston Lake, NY. Tickets are $30 for adults, $10 for children and $50 for sponsors. Please R.S.V.P. to Ballston Town Chair Patrick Southworth at 518-281-4618. To reach the Cider Mill, take Northway Exit 11 and four miles West. The mill is on the right.

6. Estate Tax -- & more

An important vote is coming up on the Estate Tax that doesn't seem to be getting the attention it deserves. The estate tax makes sure multi, mulit millionaires pay at least some tax on their wealth at some time. It prevents the concentration of wealth in the hands of the few over several generations, preventing the kind of "two counties" that used to exist in old Europe. It is a democratizing tax that encourages merit. Repealing it would lock up the nation's wealth, locking the rest of us out. We should not abolish the "Paris Hilton Tax;" Miss Hilton doesn't need more dough to blow. Further, this tax cut is big, and will aggravate the deficit, which means the rest of us will have to make up the difference. Call our Senators or sign an e-petition: http://www.usalone.com/estatetax.htm

Also there is an alert from the Save Our Environment Coalition on the Energy Bill, which has been turned into another oil company give away: http://ga3.org/campaign/stopenergybill/wx3uw3641558n86?

Then there is also the bill to protect gun makers from lawsuits: https://secure2.convio.net/mmm/site/Advocacy?JServSessionIdr006=pk1hrnrdo1.app23a&page=UserAction&cmd=display&id=573

A vote is also coming up on CAFTA, but it may be too late to call by tomorrow, but a call to Sweeney's office would be ideal: 1-866-340-9281

7. The Rule of Law; real Americans speak

One of the signal contributions of America to world civilization in the 230 years since the first Patriot's Day has been, until now, a profound commitment to the rule of law.

Along with that has been a universal belief by all Americans, until now, that although we recognize as a nation that our service people risk their lives and safety in war, and sometimes sacrifice grievously for their country, that nonetheless they are not expendable, that their well being and safety matters.

The Bush administration, through its decision to use torture, has defiled the first and gravely endangered the second. We once set a high standard. Now we have lowered it, and in so doing, our military people can now expect the same treatment in the future in return.

This article in The TImes makes clear how Bush administration officials, in this case what I guess we have to call the international "mayberry machiavellis" pushed their torture policy over the strenuous objection of military Judge Advocates Generals and military lawyers. They all saw where this would lead and the further are deeply worried about the prosecution of American military members in either civilian or military courts in the future for having been involved in the Bush torture program. This is such disheartening reading.

http://nytimes.com/2005/07/28/politics/28abuse.html?hp&ex=1122523200&en=a53cc5b6b68405d6&ei=5094&partner=homepage

But this country can still inspire. You probably read in the news of the conviction of Ahmed Ressan for the so-called millenium bombing of LA airport in December 1999. You probably did not read the comments off District Judge John C. Coughenour. This is how a real American talks and acts. Coughenour is, ironically, a Reagan appointee. Guess he isn't on Shrub's list for the Supreme Court.

"The message I would hope to convey in today's sentencing is twofold:

"First, that we have the resolve in this country to deal with the subject of terrorism and people who engage in it should be prepared to sacrifice a major portion of their life in confinement.
Secondly, though, I would like to convey the message that our system works. We did not need to use a secret military tribunal, or detain the defendant indefinitely as an enemy combatant, or deny him the right to counsel, or invoke any proceedings beyond those guaranteed by or contrary to the United States Constitution.
I would suggest that the message to the world from today's sentencing is that our courts have not abandoned our commitment to the ideals that set our nation apart. We can deal with the threats to our national security without denying the accused fundamental constitutional protections.
Despite the fact that Mr. Ressam is not an American citizen and despite the fact that he entered this country intent upon killing American citizens, he received an effective, vigorous defense, and the opportunity to have his guilt or innocence determined by a jury of 12 ordinary citizens.
Most importantly, all of this occurred in the sunlight of a public trial. There were no secret proceedings, no indefinite detention, no denial of counsel.

"The tragedy of September 11th shook our sense of security and made us realize that we, too, are vulnerable to acts of terrorism.

"Unfortunately, some believe that this threat renders our Constitution obsolete. This is a Constitution for which men and women have died and continue to die and which has made us a model among nations. If that view is allowed to prevail, the terrorists will have won.

"It is my sworn duty, and as long as there is breath in my body I'll perform it, to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. We will be in recess."



Thanks everyone, see you next week!

Larry
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 11:36 PM 1 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Update: correction and more
Hello Everyone;

First a note: it's getting difficult to compose these updates because there are so many things I feel I really should include; but it is getting impossible. I lived through Watergate, worked in the anti-war movement in the 70s and more, and frankly, I have never seen anything that can remotely compare to what is going on in this country at the moment, where so many huge, huge things are crashing around simultaneously: The Downing Street Memos, Social Security, the "Plamegate" scandal, the War imploding, terrorist attacks, the world enraged at the US, the economic, trade and budget crisis, the Supreme Court and on and on. There has been a moment in the history of the country to compare to it. But I do think it all adds up, in the long run, at least, to the Republicans going down, and very hard.

In this update:

1. Correction on date of Saratoga County BBQ -- SUNDAY!
2. Washington County Picnic
3. Opinion Action: ACLU/Patriot Act, NARAL, Walmart, Gallo, True Majority/Iraq
4. Iraq Rapidly Deteriorating
5. DNC breaking fundraising records
6. Boston Globe On DNC, Dean & Strategy
7. Community Ownership


1. Correction on date of Saratoga County BBQ -- SUNDAY!

On Sunday, July 31, in conjunction with the Ballston Democrats the Saratoga County and Ballston Democrats will be holding a Chicken BBQ. Guest include; State Chair Herman "Denny" Farrell, Assemblyman Bob Reilly, and featured guest, New York's next Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. Come and meet all of the Democrats running for office in this years local election and let's show strong support to all of our future Leaders! Time is noon to 4pm at the Lake Side Farm Cider Mill in Ballston Lake, NY. Tickets are $30 for adults, $10 for children and $50 for sponsors. Please R.S.V.P. to Ballston Town Chair Patrick Southworth at 518-281-4618. To reach the Cider Mill, take Northway Exit 11 and four miles West. The mill is on the right.

2. Washington County Picnic

Join the Washington County Democratic Committee at its Fifth Annual Picnic on Saturday, July 30th from 10 am until 5 pm at the Lake Lauderdale Pavilion in the town of Jackson. There will be potluck picnic fare and music throughout the day. Guests of honor will begin speaking at noon and include: Tracey Brooks, from Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s office; Stu Brody, Chair of the Democratic
Rural Conference; Caroline Griffin, upstate coordinator of the NYS Democratic Committee; and John Byrne, President of the NYS Young Rural Democrats.

Candidates seeking the 2006 nominations scheduled to attend include: Lt. Governor candidates: Tom DiNapoli, Joe Ruggiero, and Dr. Jon Cohen; NYS Attorney General candidates: Denise O’Donnell and Sean Patrick Maloney. Democratic candidates for the local 2005 elections
will also attend. We'll supply beer, soda, hot dogs and burgers, you bring side dishes, chairs and blankets.
Cost: $15 per person or $25 per couple, students: $6. For tickets, contact a town chair or Sheila Comar at 642-9566.

3. Opinion Action: ACLU, NARAL, Walmart, Gallo, True Majority/Iraq

There are an awful lot of these opinion actions that are being requested of us these days, so I thought I would group a bunch together:

The House has voted to make Patriot Act permanent; it is now in the hands of the Senate. For more info on why we should not want this to pass: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/7/22/115422/277
To take action sign the ACLU petition at:
https://secure.aclu.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=Patriot_Act_Petition_ACLU_followup&printer_friendly=1

Or write:
http://www.clinton.senate.gov/contact/
http://www.schumer.senate.gov/SchumerWebsite/contact/contact.html

The New York State branch of the National Abortion Rights Action League has been working for three years to get the Unintended Pregnancy Prevention Act on Governor Pataki's desk. After that happens he will have 10 days to make a decision. We should not allow the governor to turn his back on the women of New York now. Urge him to sign the legislation:
http://prochoiceaction.org/campaign/NY_EC_Action_7_25_05/step1.tcl

There are actions on Walmart (these are thanks to Drew!)

Urge Walmart to respect the rights of it's workers and let them know you care.
http://action.americanrightsatwork.org/campaign/walmartdem

Or, take the Walmart Pledge and let them know you will be buying back to school stuff and school supplies elsewhere this year"
http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/WalMart_Pledge

A boycott is also being urged of all Gallo wines because of unfair labor practices; they are now attacking Ceasar Chaves's United Farm Workers. As many of us who have been around a while will remember, the grape boycott is where consumer activism began. It's time again, only we've moved upstream to the pressed and fermented grapes! Let's hope that's progress.
http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/nogallo71905S

True Majority is urging support for a congressional resolution to withdraw US troops from Iraq:
http://action.truemajority.org/campaign/IraqExitStrategy

4. Iraq Rapidly Deteriorating

The situation is Irag is very rapidly deteriorating. You will all recall a few months ago I posted an article from the New York Review of Books that got the furor over the Downing Street Memos going. This new piece in the NYRB is probably on the same level, although it may not get as much attention, simply because there is just so much going on right now. The gist of this it that the War is over and that Iraq has won. It is worth a look. http://www.nybooks.com/articles/18150
Also check out Mideast expert Juan Cole in Salon: http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2005/07/21/iran/index_np.html

Needless to say, the prospect of all this for human rights in Iraq, especially the rights of women, is catastrophic.

The noose is tightening on the "Plamegate" scandal. The DNC has put up a master page, which is really needed, just to keep the latest developments straight. http://www.dnc.org/a/national/honest_government/abuse_of_power/cia_leak_scandal/

6. Boston Globe On DNC, Dean & Strategy

The Boston Globe follows up on the terrific piece on Governor Dean that was recently in the Washington Post. The main street media finally seems to be getting the idea of the grassroots rebellion and taking America back, state by state, district by district, town by town.

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/magazine/articles/2005/07/24/rebel_with_a_cause/?page=full

Also, Democrats raised $86.3 million in the first half of this year, beating their total for the same period in 2003 by more than 50 percent. Republican fundraising increased slightly over the same nonelection-year periods.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/7/22/94828/2646

7. Community Ownership

And sometimes you have to say a word about the future, even if it seems utopian at the moment. Those of us who spent three long, hard years working on Glens Falls' Municipal Power Project will find this piece on the growing interest in community ownership very close to their hearts.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/theblog/archive/david-sirota/community-ownership-cha_4636.html

Finally, since it is the summer season, Dick and Pat tell me they recently saw the new movie Cinderella Man; they say it is one of the greatest Democratic movies ever. It's still at the Spectrum if you want to catch it.

Thanks everyone! Enjoy the summer!

Larry
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 11:46 PM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA: Info on Roberts
Hello Everyone;

Sorry for this second update of the day -- but I thought you all would like to see this info on John Roberts, Bush's new appointee to the Supreme Court. These pieces are from Democratic Underground.com and there is a lot to mull on. He is quite conservative, indeed. Stay tuned, I guess!

Larry




John Roberts a dissenter on the Cheney Energy Task Force Case

In re: Richard B. Cheney, Vice President of the United States, 2003 U.S. App. LEXIS 18831 (D.C. Cir. 2003), cert. granted, 2003 U.S. LEXIS 9205 (2003): secrecy of Vice President Cheney's energy task force

Judge Roberts was one of the dissenters in the court's 5-3 denial of a petition for rehearing en banc (with one judge not participating) filed by the Bush Administration in its continuing efforts to avoid releasing records pertaining to Vice President Cheney's energy task force. This ruling came in litigation brought by Judicial Watch and the Sierra Club charging that the Vice President's task force had violated federal law by not making its records public. The court's ruling marked "the fourth time a judicial panel has rebuffed efforts to keep the information from the public." Carol D. Leonnig, "Energy Task Force Appeal Refused," Washington Post (Sept. 12, 2003). At the Administration's urging, the Supreme Court has agreed to review the case; a decision is expected by the end of June 2004.

http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=13523


Roberts wrote in 1991 "Roe v wade...should be overruled."

"When Roberts was nominated for the D.C. Circuit in 2003, Clinton's former solicitor general, Seth Waxman, called Roberts an "exceptionally well-qualified appellate advocate."

He put in his time advising the Bush legal team in Florida during the battle over the 2000 presidential election and has often argued conservative positions before the court -- but they can be attributed to clients, not necessarily to him.

That includes a brief he wrote for President George H.W. Bush's administration in a 1991 abortion case, in which he observed that "we continue to believe that Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided and should be overruled."

Roberts won the case -- Rust v. Sullivan -- in which the Supreme Court agreed with the administration that the government could require doctors and clinics receiving federal funds to avoid talking to patients about abortion."

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/local/...


Roberts background

Posted by mzteris

Added to homepage Tue Jul 19th 2005, 08:30 PM ET

...record as a lawyer for the Reagan and first Bush administrations and in private practice is down-the-line conservative on key contested fronts, including abortion, separation of church and state, and environmental protection.

Abortion
For Bush I, successfully helped argue that doctors and clinics receiving federal funds may not talk to patients about abortion. (Rust v. Sullivan, 1991)

Separation of Church and State
For Bush I, co-authored a friend-of-the-court brief arguing that public high-school graduation programs could include religious ceremonies. The Supreme Court disagreed by a vote of 5-4. (Lee v. Weisman, 1992)

Civil Rights and Liberties
For a unanimous panel, denied the weak civil rights claims of a 12-year-old girl who was arrested and handcuffed in a Washington, D.C., Metro station for eating a French fry. Roberts noted that "no one is very happy about the events that led to this litigation" and that the Metro authority had changed the policy that led to her arrest. (Hedgepeth v. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, 2004).

In private practice, wrote a friend-of-the-court brief arguing that Congress had failed to justify a Department of Transportation affirmative action program. (Adarand Constructors, Inc. v. Mineta, 2001).

For Reagan, opposed a congressional effort—in the wake of the 1980 Supreme Court decision Mobile v. Bolden—to make it easier for minorities to successfully argue that their votes had been diluted under the Voting Rights Act.

Environmental Protection and Property Rights
Voted for rehearing in a case about whether a developer had to take down a fence so that the arroyo toad could move freely through its habitat. Roberts argued that the panel was wrong to rule against the developer because the regulations on behalf of the toad, promulgated under the Endangered Species Act, overstepped the federal government's power to regulate interstate commerce. At the end of his opinion, Roberts suggested that rehearing would allow the court to "consider alternative grounds" for protecting the toad that are "more consistent with Supreme Court precedent." (Rancho Viejo v. Nortion, 2003)

For Bush I, argued that environmental groups concerned about mining on public lands had not proved enough about the impact of the government's actions to give them standing to sue. The Supreme Court adopted this argument. (Lujan v. National Wildlife Federation, 1990)

Criminal Law
Joined a unanimous opinion ruling that a police officer who searched the trunk of a car without saying that he was looking for evidence of a crime (the standard for constitutionality) still conducted the search legally, because there was a reasonable basis to think contraband was in the trunk, regardless of whether the officer was thinking in those terms. (U.S. v. Brown, 2004)

Habeas Corpus
Joined a unanimous opinion denying the claim of a prisoner who argued that by tightening parole rules in the middle of his sentence, the government subjected him to an unconstitutional after-the-fact punishment. The panel reversed its decision after a Supreme Court ruling directly contradicted it. (Fletcher v. District of Columbia, 2004)

Judicial Philosophy
Concurring in a decision allowing President Bush to halt suits by Americans against Iraq as the country rebuilds, Roberts called for deference to the executive and for a literal reading of the relevant statute. (Acree v. Republic of Iraq, 2004)

In an article written as a law student, argued that the phrase "just compensation" in the Fifth Amendment, which limits the government in the taking of private property, should be "informed by changing norms of justice." This sounds like a nod to liberal constitutional theory, but Rogers' alternative interpretation was more protective of property interests than Supreme Court law at the time.

http://www.dkosopedia.com/index.php/John_G._Roberts_Jr.

Also check out this great link (thanks Drew!) on "Rove/Plamegate."

Rove/Plame Scandal Leads To Greater White House Horrors?
July 19, 2005 · At long last, Plamegate - the scandal surrounding the naming of covert CIA operative Valerie Plame Wilson by two "senior administration officials" - has exploded out of the D.C. beltway to become a major national news story. By Bernard Weiner
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 10:55 PM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Update: upcoming agenda, events, Rove scandal, more
Hello Everyone;

First, I hope you are all keeping cool and having a great summer!

President Bush has asked the networks for time tonight to announce his Supreme Court choice. It is widely rumored to be Edith "Joy" Clement of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in Shreveport. Bush is said to be moving this up because of the Rove Spy scandal. She has apparently stated that she regards Roe v. Wade as established law, so she superficially seems more moderate than expected, so this may be positive fallout from the scandal -- they may feel that can't afford a fight right now.

In this update:

1. Conference call report and DFA agenda for the next few months
2. Saratoga Fundraiser
3. Washington County Picnic
4. Scandal heating up: Petitions on Rove & DSM
5. Estate Tax Repeal?
6. Iraq, Dems on rebound, Eminent Domain, Costco
7. Hillary raising $2mil a month
8. Dean Wowing the West


1. Conference call report and DFA agenda for the next few months

In a recent conference call with local meetup coordinators, our DFA staff in Burlington laid out what they are proposing to be DFA's national agenda for the next few months.

For August, they are going to send to each local group a print out of all the people in our area who have signed the DFA petition urging Congress to investigate the Downing Street Memo . They want us to have a Action Day on or around 8/17 to present these petitions to our Congressional representatives; in our case John Sweeney. This was pretty effective the last time around, and I would propose we participate. If you haven't signed, there is still time at: http://petition.democracyforamerica.com/page/petition/downing

With the Rove/Libby scandal now confirmed, and pointing increasing towards ever higher ranking officials (Cheney? Rice? Even Bush?) this couldn't be more timely since ultimately this scandal is about hiding the lies that led us to war.

For the September meetup they are proposing a joint action with Not My Child, a nationwide parent's group counseling the parents of high school students that they can "opt-out" under the No Child Left Behind Law that allows military recruiters into the schools to recruit students. If you send in a "opt out" form, recruiters are not allowed to approach your child.

For November they are proposing to return to Walmart; Robert Greenwald's new film we previewed in June, Walmart: The High Price Of The Low Price, will be coming out then.

2. Saratoga Fundraiser

Saratoga County Democratic Chairman Larry Bulman and Ballston Town Chair Patrick Southworth would like to invite you to a fundraiser for Saratoga County Democratic candidates J. D. Wood, David Stern, and Patti Southworth on July 30th from noon to 4pm at the Lake Side Farm Cider Mill in Ballston Lake, NY. Guest speaker is former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Andrew Cuomo. Denny Farrell, NY State Democratic Committee Chairman, is also scheduled to appear along with Assemblyman Bob Reilly. Tickets are $30 for adults, $10 for children and $50 for sponsors. Please R.S.V.P. to Ballston Town Chair Patrick Southworth at 518-281-4618. To reach the Cider Mill, take Northway Exit 11 and four miles West. The mill is on the right.

3. Washington County Picnic

"Please join us at our 5th Annual Picnic at Lake Lauderdale Park (on Route 22 in the Town of Jackson) on Saturday, July 30th. The picnic will take place at the Park Pavillion and will begin at 10:00 AM. Guest speakers will be secheduled from noon to 2:00 PM.
We'll supply beer, soda, hot dogs and burgers, you bring side dishes, chairs and blankets.
Cost: $15 per person or $25 per couple, students: $6. For tickets, contact a town chair or Sheila Comar at 642-9566.

4. Scandal heating up: Petitions on Rove & DSM

The "Rovergate" spy outing scandal is gaining steam by the day; this looks to be at least as big as Watergate. There are online petitions demanding his resignation or an end to the coverup at: http://www.stopthecoverup.com/ and : http://votelouise.com/page/petition/rove

5. Estate Tax Repeal?

A variety of groups are calling an action alert on the Estate Tax. We are being urged to write Senators Clinton and Schumer.

What's this about? The US Senate is may soon vote on a tax cut that would reduce the federal government's income by $1 trillion dollars over the next 10 years by drastically reducing the estate tax - a tax that only the wealthiest 2% of Americans are required to pay. A "compromise" currently focuses on Senator Kyl's proposal to reduce the tax by more than 90% - not much different from repealing the tax altogether.

The estate tax applies to inherited estates with values over $1.5 Million Dollars,. In 2001, only 52,000 people in the entire United States paid the estate tax - only 3,859 in NYS. The estate tax was created to prevents the over concentration of wealth and ensure the small percentage of wealthy taxpayers who have the resources to legally avoid paying other taxes pay their fair share .

For an online petition and more info go to Americans for a Fair Estate Tax: http://www.ombwatch.org/estatetax/

An alternative is the UCC Take Action Site (pardon a denominational one, if need be, but you can customize it): http://www.ucctakeaction.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=27217

6. Iraq, Dems on rebound, Eminent Domain, Costco

The war in Iraq is rapidly deteriorating. Last weekend there were an incredible ten suicide bombers in one single day.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4692881.stm

The Dems are rebounding. This is a good peice for London's Financial Times.
http://biz.yahoo.com/ft/050717/fto071720051741223246.html?.v=1

Drew sends this along in regard to our resolution on the Supreme Court's ruling on Eminent Domain: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/07/18/MNG8FDPL2G1.DTL These people's plight ought to disturb all of us.

Both Rosemary and Drew sent this piece following up on our resolution to urge Costco to consider our area. Rosemary called and got a representative on the phone. She says she "Called them last week and there are no new stores planned for NY up until October. She said she was taking down everything I was saying and passing it on."

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/17/business/yourmoney/17costco.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5090&en=8b3103305fea6d68&ex=1279252800&adxnnl=0&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1121709196-wZvqe/4xtlYdt6k3hgkiXw

7. Hillary raising $2mil a month

Hillary is raising a scorching 2 million a month as she tools up for her reelection bid: http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8586989/
However, there have been demands that she apologize to Mad Magazine cover dolt Alfred E. Newman for comparing him to President Bush. Indeed. Alfred may be dumb, but like Forrest Gump, deep down he is good. Even Alfred would know it's wrong to leak the name of a secret intelligence agent.

She also gave a rousing address yesterday to the National Council of La Raza, the nation's largest Hispanic group: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/18/AR2005071801530.html

8. Dean Wowing the West

Gov. Dean is stumping the West, to large crowds and rave reviews. Local Democrats who were skeptics of Dean as Chairman have now become enthusiastic backers. Part of the reason is that the Governor refuses to write any area of the country off the way the Party did in the past (like here in the 20th) and he is building up the infrastructure to win.

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050717/NEWS01/507170301/1002
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_2861718

This account by an attendee gives a strong sense in considerable detail (if you have time) of what a Dean speech is like.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/7/19/02652/1644

Thanks everybody! Enjoy the season.

Larry
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 2:55 PM 1 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Update: Petioining Postponed
Hello Everyone;

In this brief update;

At our Meetup we discussed circulating some Walmart petitions tomorrow, Wednesday the 12th. However, we haven't had enough RSVPs to know how many are going to attend, so we are going to reschedule the Walmart petitioning for later.

In other news it looks like Karl Rove is sinking deeper and deeper into a legal abyss. Hopefully, he will take much of the Bush administration and the far right with him.

Senator Lautenberg of New Jersey laid it on the line today: according to Lautenberg, Rove is guilty of treason: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/7/12/203840/936

MSNBC's Keith Olbermann also really nailed the issue in this column: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8085423/#050711a

Meanwhile, it's been almost 1400 days since September 11th, but there has been no progress on catching Osama Bin Forgotten. However, Scotland Yard and MI5 appear to have broken the London bombing case in less than five days: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4676577.stm

Again, the Walmart petitioning for tomorrow has been postponed. We'll try again later.

Many thanks,

Larry


We'll try again later.

Many thanks,

Larry
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 11:04 PM 1 comments

 
July Meetup Report
Hello Everyone:

In this update;

1. Another Successful Meetup
2. Eminent Domain Resolution
3. Social Security Debate
4. Walmart
5. Actions -- Costco, Air America Radio
6. Time Magazine Cover Story
7. Rove Confirmed As Source? Dean Comments
8. Hillary: Bush is Alfred E. Newman

1. Another Successful Meetup

First, a salute to everyone who turned out for last week's successful meetup last week at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe, despite the lovely July evening. We had a night of intense discussion of several major issues: eminent domain, Social Security, Walmart & alternatives and Air America radio.

2. Eminent Domain Resolution

As you may have seen from today's Post-Star, the first part of the evening was a discussion of the recent 5-4 Supreme Court decision on Eminent Domain, which gives the power to government to take people's property for "public use." At specific issue before the Court was a case in New London, Connecticut, in which eminent domain was used to take homes from average working Americans and handed them over developers building luxury condos for rich people. ( As if developers of housing for the rich need government help! )

Dick Dudley was particularly concerned, as a former Glens Falls Councilman-At-Large and Council President, that this decision is being characterized as Liberal. Obviously, it is not. As he noted, liberals and progressives stand for the protection of average Americans, not their exploitation.

After discussion, the group agreed that the government should not be taking average American homes and handling their land over to wealthy special interests. By unanimous vote, we adopted the following resolution:

Resolution

Whereas, The United States Supreme Court on June 24, 2005 held that local government may take land from families and private individuals for private business development using the power of Eminent Domain and;

Whereas, Justice O'Connor said in the dissenting opinion that "under the banner of economic development, all private property is now vulnerable to being taken and transferred to another private owner, so long as it might be ... given to an owner who will use it in a way that the legislature deems more beneficial to the public." and;

Whereas, that this ruling violates and deeply offends a basic American principle, among others, that “all people are created equal;” and have an equal right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness, that in the eyes of the law the poor, the middle class, the rich and the very rich are to be treated equally and to be considered of equal worth; and

Whereas, the Supreme Court stated in its majority opinion that the States could set their own standards, there is a recognition that the citizenry then has to face the daunting challenge of convincing 50 legislatures, all but one bicameral, of securing justice in Eminent Domain knowing that big box retailers like WalMart and other corporate predators will field tens of millions of dollars in lobbying effort state by state;

Whereas, Eminent Domain should not be used against working people to benefit wealthy individuals and corporations who further can afford the legal battles involved in these cases whereas working people cannot protecting average working people being the liberal and progressive position;

Be It Resolved, that the Greater Glens Falls Democracy for America Chapter condemns this Supreme Court decision and asks its Representatives in Congress to establish and pass carefully written laws intended to protect and reassure the Citizens of the country that their hard earned homes, usually the largest investment of their lives, will not be taken from them for any private development of any kind by the use of Eminent Domain.

3. Social Security Debate

Next we discussed at length Rep. Sweeney's recent forum in Clifton Park and a petition campaign on Social Security being advocated by the In This Together Coalition, a front group of the Working Families Party.

We had a significant number of people present who were at the Sweeney forum (I was pleasantly surprised how many of our people
got in. It was clearly due to our DFA Action Day in April.)

After hearing from those present at the forum, It was the overwhelming opinion of our members that Sweeney has in fact totally committed himself to the destruction of Social Security and that he is far more committed to the right wing agenda generally than people in the area realize.There was a discussion of the petition itself and the idea of petitioning generally and finally both were rejected. For one thing, most of our folks felt that all of the different petitions they had seen (including DFA's) were simply not specific enough.

But the larger issue is that, after the discussion, the general sense was that petitioning Sweeney did not make sense any more. One analogy that Dick brought up was that it was like peasants in Russia petitioning the Tsar, on the belief he really had their well being in heart, and was just being mislead by bad advisers, only, of course, he was not being misled. In this case, like back then, Sweeney really does stand for some truly terrible things.

Lisa Scerbo raised the point that petitioning can be consciousness raising and educational -- that people just don't know, which is true, and we may consider something along that line in the future.

We had a polling or sense of our group vote and it was unanimous that the main course of action needs to be to commit to removing Sweeney from office, and we would like to respectfully call on everyone else to do the same.

4. Walmart

We then moved into a discussion of DFA's Walmart initiative. There was general agreement that most people do not know how bad Walmart is for the economy, or that that they now advising their employees on how to apply for Medicaid, which we all fund through our property taxes; in effect Walmart is driving up our property taxes instead of giving their health insurance.

We agreed to do a petitioning at the Glens Falls Post Office at 4pm on Wednesday. We need to know how many are going to show up. If you intend to come, please RSVP to me at ldudley@larrydudley.com and let me know.

Here are links to files of the petitions and info sheets that explain the initiative. I will attach at pdf at the bottom of this message.

http://www.wakeupwalmart.com/facts/health-care.html
http://www.wakeupwalmart.com/downloads/health-half-page.pdf
If you are coming, you will need to print this off: http://www.wakeupwalmart.com/downloads/health-signup.pdf

5. Actions -- Costco, Air America Radio

To follow through on this, we agreed it would be great if people had a better alternative to Walmart. One exists: Costco, which Buy Blue gives one of it's highest ratings. Costco has better prices (believe it or not ) fresher produce (as Lisa noted) they are unionized, give their workers health care and pay at least $16 an hour. This great link explains it all: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/7/6/103337/9795

We agreed to write to Costco and urge them to build a store in our area. (They have one in Burlington. Doesn't it figure?)

I will write a letter with the resolution, but we all can write:

James D. Sinegal
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Costo
Corporate Office
999 Lake Drive
Issaquah, WA 98027

or call the office of
Richard Galanti
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Phone: (425) 313-8203

By the way, Sinegal only pays himself $350,000 a year. He only makes 8-10 times what employees make, The average for American CEO's today 1s over 500-1. That's how they can afford to do these great things.

We also agreed that we would like to hear Air America radio locally. We agreed that I should send a message to WCKM urging them to carry Air America radio, which I will do shortly. You can listen online at http://www.airamericaradio.com/

6. Time Magazine Cover Story

The cover story in Time Magazine this week is on how Bush's invasion of Iraq has made everyone less safe. This is especially pertinent after the atrocities last week in London. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1081392,00.html

7. Rove Confirmed As Source? Dean Comments

Karl Rove may be about to be arrested for betraying the identity of CIA secret agent Valerie Palme as a political reprisal against her husband Joe Wilson. This could in principle be considered treason in wartime and also espionage. Secret American supporters overseas in controlling nuclear proliferation may have died because of this esposure. it's a measure of how utterly immoral and unprincipled the Bush administration really is: http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0710-24.htm
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/7/10/42259/4958

Governor Dean commented on Rove in a conference call last week.

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/In_call_with_bloggers_online_media_Dean_raises_Rove_ethi_0707.html

8. Hillary: Bush is Alfred E. Newman

This is great! Hillary compared Bush to Mad Magazine's cover dolt Alfred E. Newman! Now why do we have to read South African papers online to hear this stuff? http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=245068&area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__international_news/


Thanks everyone! Remember to RSVP if you want to petition Wednesday.

Larry
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 10:58 AM 3 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Reminder: Meetup Tomorrow
Hello Everyone;

In This update:

1. Meetup Reminder
2. Rove Going to Jail? What's really at stake in Plame affair?
3. Clinton & Levin on the real danger spot
4. Pataki's son Ducking Marine Committment?
4. Media wind shifting on Dean
6. On the lighter side -- National Media Reaction to Big Story Yesterday from Philadelphia

1. Meetup Reminder

Just a reminder; our monthly meetup will be in Glens Falls tomorrow, Wednesday, July 6th at 7pm at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe.
There's a lot to talk about -- Karl Rove to be arrested? Supreme Court, Social Security and Walmart, and planning some sort of outreach even for later in July.

We will be discussing a file detailing the way in which Rep. Sweeney has apparently decided to wreck Social Security. Its author, Alex Pollock of the right wing American Enterprise Institute, came up from Washington to present this plan at Sweeney's "forum" last week. In a number of ways this scheme is even more insidious than previous ones and we'll be discussing it in more detail; some of us were at the forum.

To reach the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe, take Exit 18 of the Northway into Glens Falls. Past the Hannaford Supermarket, bear right at the fork in the road by the Stewart's shop. Go past the Post Office and the Hospital to the last stop light before the main intersection of Glen and Hudson Avenue downtown. The Cafe is on the left at the corner of Hudson Ave., Exchange and Elm Street.

There will be no meetup in Saratoga this month, so we would like to invite everyone interested in going to a Meetup to come up to the Cafe!

2. Rove Going to Jail? What's really at stake in Plame affair?

There's news all over that Karl Rove may be on his way to jail for leaking secret agent Valerie Plame's name to punish her husband.
Questions are being raised at what's the real stake in Plame leak: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/7/3/16838/88864

3. Clinton & Levin on the real danger spot

Senator's Clinton and Levin have a terrific piece in today's Washington Post on the world's real worst danger spot, North Korea, and how Bush and the neocons have utterly blown its proper handling.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/04/AR2005070400862.html

4. Pataki's son Ducking Marine Committment?

It seems Governor Pataki's son was a member of the Marine ROTC. Now that he's graduating from colleg and suddenly facing orders for Iraq, he's trying to angle a three year deferment so he can go to law school! Like a good Republican Pataki has defended the war, but apparently other people's kids have to fight it. There's a word for it: chickenhawk: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/7/5/5485/12797

4. Media wind shifting on Dean

After a lot of bashing, the national media seems to be changing it's tune on Governor Dean. This in depth Washington Post article in particular is an amazingly favorable portrayal:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/28/AR2005062801074_pf.html
Even Fox News! http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,161272,00.html


6. On the lighter side -- National Media Reaction to Big Story Yesterday from Philadelphia

Finally, on the lighter side, here's a take on yesterday's liberals and progressives: national media reaction to the news from Philadelphia
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/7/5/963/97677

Thanks everyone!

Larry
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 4:34 PM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Update: Meetup Next week, Happy 4th! Consternation To The Enemies of the Republic!
Hello Everyone;

In this update:

First off, I hope you all have a happy Fourth of July Holiday!

It's time to commemorate and celebrate the values of the American Revolution: Equality, Freedom, Justice, Inclusion, Fairness and the Rule of Law. Nothing could be more subversive of the far right's agenda than these revolutionary values.

1. O'Connor retires; Democratic response?
2. Meetup next week
3. New Social Security War Coming
4. Training upcoming in Syracuse
5. Zogby Poll; Surprising support for impeachment

1. O'Connor retires; Sig

The big news of the day -- indeed -- of the summer is the sudden and apparently unexpected retirement of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Since O'Connor holds the "swing" seat on the high Court, her replacement could determine the direction of the Supreme Court and the Country literally for generations to come. As we tried to tell Americans during the last two elections, a hard right wing choice could wipe out most of legal and human gains that have occured in this country by proclaiming them unconstitutional. This will indeed be a time of testing for our Senatorial delegation.

DFA just sent out this online petition signed by Senator Leahy: http://petition.democracyforamerica.com/page/petition/norubberstamp
Please sign and pass this along!

Governor Dean and Senator Clinton have already made statements: http://www.dnc.org/a/2005/07/statement_by_dn_4.php
http://www.clinton.senate.gov/~clinton/news/2005/2005701907.html


2. Meetup next week

It's time for our monthly meetup in Glens Falls next week; undoubtedly, the Supreme Court will be on everyone's mind and I am sure we will be hearing from DFA Burlington with a specific call for action by then (The DFA website is down today for maintenance).

We will also be continuing our focus on Social Security and Walmart, and planning some sort of outreach even for later in July. I will attach DFA's Walmart flyer at the bottom.

To reach the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe, take Exit 18 of the Northway into Glens Falls. Past the Hannaford Supermarket, bear right at the fork in the road by the Stewart's shop. Go past the Post Office and the Hospital to the last stop light before the main intersection of Glen and Hudson Avenue downtown. The Cafe is on the left at the corner of Hudson Ave., Exchange and Elm Street.

3. New Social Security War Coming

As you know from the previous update, there was a major revelation of the Republican intentions to wreck Social Security at Sweeney's forum this week. This effort is far more insidious than what we have seen in the past. Dick and Pat and some of our members were there. Since it appears this was the first area to have witness this test run, we'll spend some time at the meetup talking about framing the new plan.

4. Training upcoming in Syracuse

There will be a major DFA activist training weekend in Cazenovia, NY, later this month. These are two full day, high intensity sessions with highly experienced trainers. This is one of the most important things we can do in DFA; improve the skills of Democrat's and progressive's. This is from Vicki Trojnor, DFA Fingerlakes, the local sponsor of this event;

"Here are the basics.

Date: July 23rd & 24th (Sat & Sunday)
Where: Cazenovia College, NY
Cost: 50.00 per individual
price includes all training material and 5 meals (Brkfst, Lunch &
Dinner on Sat and Brkfst and Lunch on Sunday
If you are a vegiterian
or diabetic, not to worry, all meals will fit your needs.

Overnight accomadations for Sat: Dorm rooms are available for the
cost of 28.00 per person double occupancy or 33.00 for a single. You
will need to bring your own towel and sheets (sleeping bag)

Of course, I will be putting together a list of area hotels for those
that aren't up to a dorm room, but we always try to make this as
inexpensive as possible so more people can attend.

Training rooms and some dorm rooms are handicap accessable.

If you are interested in attending, please contact me and let me
know, as we have limited room.

Vicki L Trojnor
wdckqn@msn.com
315-252-0947"

Our thanks to Vicki and everyone out west for all the work on this.


5. Zogby Poll; Surprising support for impeachment

Bush got zero "bounce" off his prime time TV speech and American's disapproval of his failures continues to grow. The Impeachment question is actually being seriously considered by a very large numbers of Americans. It couldn't happen until after the next mid term elections and even then it is very theoretical, but the fact so many Americans now understand the meaning of Bush's lies is a great turning point.

In regard to the DSM, Prime Minister Blair has confirmed the accuracy of the minutes: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/7/1/144114/8238

For more on the latest and surprising Zogby Poll: http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.dbm?ID=1007
And more on impeachment:
http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/index.html?blog=/politics/war_room/2005/06/30/zogby/index.html
http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/index.cfm/fuseaction/viewItem/itemID/7881

Thanks everyone! Happy Fourth of July! And as we used to proclaim, Consternation to the enemies of the Republic!

Larry
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 6:10 PM 0 comments