Tricounty DFA Update: Vigil, DSM meeting next week, DFA-Link and more
Hello Everyone;

In this update:

1. Downing Street Memo Meeting Next Wednesday
2. Reminder -- Register With DFA-Link!
3. "Ignore The Neocons" -- An Important Story About Army and Marine Commanders and a way out
4. Price Check For DFA
5. Join DNC FOIA On Roberts
6. NARAL: Petition Action -- Save Birth Control Access
7. Great Vigils In Saratoga And Elsewhere In Support Of Cindy Sheehan


1. Downing Street Memo Meeting Next Wednesday

The next big local DFA event is our Downing Street Memo meeting with Rep. Sweeney aide Jim Clark on Wednesday the 24th at 12:30. We will be discussing the implications of the Downing Street Memo and asking the Congressman to consider supporting a bipartisan investigation of the origins of the war in Iraq. Remember - there are Republican congressmen who are now totally against the war (like North Caroline Rep. Walter Jones, who once even moved a resolution to rename french fries "freedom fries" in Capitol Hill cafeterias).

We appreciate being able to meet with Jim Clark, who we met with last April to discuss Social Security. As a result of that meeting, a number of our members got tickets to Rep. Sweeney's forum in Clifton Park. Jim has been very good about meeting with us, and let's remember, there are offices of Republican Congressmen that are refusing to meet with DFA people. The intention is for this meeting to be a non-confrontational working session to discuss the issue, explain our view, solicit theirs and urge change.

For everyone who turned out for the Vigil to support Cindy Sheehan, this is the next logical step. We need at least a dozen people to attend the session, which will be in Sweeney's regional office in the Rogers Building at 21 Bay Street in downtown Glens Falls across the street from the Crandall Library. Please RSVP to me or use DFA-Link to confirm your attendance.

2. Reminder -- Register With DFA-Link!

As you probably know DFA has created DFA-Link to replace our meetup.com tools. Again, please take a second, click this link and go online with DFA-Link and register. http://www.DFA-Link.com/register.php?c=g&id=91042f3ae603ef90&email=__EMAIL__

After you get to the page, just follow the instructions and then click to join our local group, Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area. Others will be up soon. These tools will really empower all our local groups and make it easier for us to do all kinds of things; we'll be seeing a lot of this in the future. RIght now, we need you to register! Thanks.

3. Ignore The Neocons -- A very important story

That the war in Iraq is going very badly is becoming increasingly clear. However, this piece from TomPaine.com calls attention to a side of the Iraq War this is getting little attention; the effort of our military commanders in Iraq to get neocon extremists in Washington to negotiate with secular professional military commanders in the Iraqi Army we disbanded and secular Baath officials we fired, most of whom were simply careerists.

The fact a pitched battle occurred between Baathist and old Iraq military elements last week and forces of Al Queida went unnoticed in most of the mainstream media. But the secularists want Al Queida out of their country -- along with us -- and they are willing to fight to do it. But no one in Washington wants to listen to our military commanders on how this is the responsible and safe way for the US and the world to resolved the Iraq crisis. This seems to include many Democrats, sad to say. It's hard to understand; what's the problem with backing up Army and Marine generals? Isn't that "cover?" http://www.tompaine.com/articles/20050818/first_ignore_the_neocons.php

4. Price Check For DFA

You may have gotten this message from DFA's Executive Director, Tom Hughes. "Over the past few months, you've joined thousands of DFA members nationwide to lead the fight to make America's largest and most powerful corporation -- Wal-Mart -- a better company.... But in case you haven't noticed, Wal-Mart's claim to "Always Low Prices" is still a tremendous draw. Despite the bad press, lawsuits and activism exposing the company's policies, hardworking Americans like bargains, and in many places they still think Wal-Mart offers consumers a good deal.

So this month, Wal-Mart Watch -- an organization DFA works closely with -- needs your help launching a nationwide project to test Wal-Mart's low-price guarantee once and for all. There has been a lot of speculation about Wal-Mart's pricing tactics. Do they price nationally, regionally or store-by-store? Do they cut prices upon moving into a new community only to raise them when free of nearby competition? Do they lure customers with bargains on featured items only to stick it to them on more mundane goods? We need your help finding out."

If you want to help out by checking a few prices locally, go to: http://www.democracyforamerica.com/pricecheck

5. Join DNC FOIA On Roberts

The DNC is asking Democrats everywhere to cosponsor a Freedom Of Information Request for Supreme Court Nominee John Roberts. What is the administration hiding? The latest revelations on his positions on civil and women's rights are frankly fairly shocking. We need to know more. To co-sign, go to: http://www.democrats.org/page/petition/foia

6. NARAL: Petition Action -- Save Birth Control Access

As many predicted, the right to birth control is now incrementally under attack. NARAL is fighting this. To learn more and petition Governor Pataki, and help save the right to birth control for all, go to: http://prochoiceaction.org/campaign/NY_fedlis_takeover_8_18_05/step1.tcl

7. Great Vigils In Saratoga And Elsewhere In Support Of Cindy Sheehan

Finally, there was a great vigil in Saratoga Springs Wednesday in support of Gold Star Mother For Peace Cindy Sheehan. We want to thank and salute all the organizers of this event in Saratoga! It was one of the largest demonstrations I have ever seen in the Northcountry; several hundred were present; for the vigil and march.

Tonight it is reported Cindy is back at her stand in Crawford, after leaving to attend to her mother. You would think common sense would tell Bush that no politician ever won an argument with a Gold Star Mother, but common sense seems to be in short supply these days. As Terrance Samuels on Prospect.org noted today: "... no amount of political capital can compete with the moral gravitas of a grieving mother. The mothers of dead soldiers have no credibility issues. They command attention and demand respect...."
http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewWeb&articleId=10151


Some pictures DFA member Roger Wyatt took and a description by yours truly wound up on Blog For America Thursday.
http://www.blogforamerica.com/archives/006763.html
Also our group blog at http://townmeetingday.blogspot.com

Thanks Everyone! Make sure to register with DFA-Link and please RSVP to me for the DSM meeting Wednesday!

Larry
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 12:40 AM