Tricounty DFA: "Meetup" with Governor Dean next week, "Fitzmas", last minute election news and more
Hello Everyone;

First, I want to thank everyone who came out to make Wednesday's vigil such a success, and the Post Star for its excellent coverage.

In this update:

1. Meetings next week: Conference call with Governor Dean
2. Lewis Libby: First shoe to fall -- what do we do?
3. Gillibrand Reception
4. Washington County Action
5. Volunteer For Val

1. Meetings next week: Conference call with Governor Dean

We will be having our November DFA "meetup," which we now call Linkups, next week, Wednesday, November 2, at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe in downtown Glens Falls at 7pm.

The main attraction of the evening will be a live conference call with DFA founder and DNC chair Governor Howard Dean and DFA Chair Jim Dean. This conference call is scheduled for 9pm so that activists from coast to coast can get in on the call. The Cafe has generously agreed to stay open a half hour longer so we can get in on the call. (However, we will want to vacate promptly so the staff can go home.)

This is the first live call with the Governor in a long time; so we are bound to hear a lot of exciting news. On Nov. 15th Governor Dean is having another nationwide conference call on the topics he intends to speak about: the Republican Culture of Corruption and organizing Democrats for victory next year. However, the Governor is going to discuss all this with us, his DFA base, first.

We will also be discussing message formation and letter writing, our upcoming Voting Machine Forum, DFA-Link and more. It should be a great meeting. Come and bring a friend.

To reach the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe, from Northway Exit 18, travel east into Glens Falls. Past the Hannaford, bear right at the Stewart's store, go past the Post Office and the Hospital to the intersection with the light just before the five points downtown. The Cafe is on the left on the corner of Hudson Ave., Exchange Street and Elm Street.

2. Lewis Libby: First shoe to fall -- what do we do?

As you probably know, Lewis "Scooter" Libby was indicted today on five counts of perjury, obstruction of justice and making false statements. Activists across the country, especially online, are calling this "Fitzmas" -- a Christmas like gift to Democrats and progressives because it is clear there are more and possibly bigger indictments to come. And indeed it is a great event, but only if we follow through. "Taking Back America" will not happen on its own.

We have to guard against thinking this will solve all our problems for us. In a sense, this is also a moment of real danger for Democrats and progressives as well -- we can't slip back into the complacent, stand pat thinking of the past that helped get us into this mess in the first place. Our party still needs reform and real change and a renewed commitment to average Americans, not corporate elites the way some elements in our party, like the DLC, would have. Republican failure do not automatically translate into our victory.

What can we do today? Online actions:

True Majority is sending a petition for Congress to fully investigate: http://action.truemajority.org/campaign/libbyindictment

Rep. John Conyers has a petition to Bush demanding there be no pardons of "Plamegate" offenders like Libby Lewis: http://johnconyers.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7BB8736AFE-46F8-4994-81E7-7ECB674DE91D%7D

Also, ask Congress to support Representative Dennis Kucinich's resolution that the Bush Administration disclose all documentation from the infamous White House Iraq Group Libby belonged to that "cooked" the Iraq intelligence. http://www.democrats.com/peoplesemailnetwork/72

3. Gillibrand Reception

However, the big job we can do to follow up on today's events is getting rid of Congressman John Sweeney, who George Bush has nicknamed "Conressman Kickass" for his role in stealing the vote in Miami in 2000.

You can meet the person who will do that, Kirsten Gillibrand, at a special reception this weekend.

When: Saturday, October 29, 5:00-7:00 pm
Where: 180 Combs Road, Warrensburg, NY

RSVP Sean Gavin at SeanTGavin@gmail.com
For further information call Sean at 518-755-4276
For directions enroute, please call: 518-623-4407

Directions:

From the South: take I-87 N to Exit 23 Warrensburg. Turn left at end of exit ramp; proceed west to traffic light at US-9 (0.2 miles). Right turn onto US-9; proceed north through Warrensburg (0.7 miles) to intersection with NY-Rte. 418 (Richards Ave.). Turn left onto Rte 418, proceed west 3.5 miles, crossing into the Town of Thurman. NY Rte. 418 ends at three-way intersection with Athol Rd. Turn right onto Athol Rd., proceed up the hill; bear right through Thurman (passing the Post Office and the Town Hall). Turn right onto Glen-Athol Rd.; proceed until the Y-intersection with Valley Rd. Turn left onto Valley Rd., proceeding approximately two miles. Combs Rd. has two entrances on the right; take the second Combs Rd. entrance. 180 Combs Rd. will be the second house on the left-hand side of the road.

From the North: I-87 N to Exit 25, Rte. 8. Turn right onto Rte. 8, proceed west through Wevertown (passing through intersection with Rte. 28) into Johnsburg. In Johnsburg, make a left turn onto So. Johnsburg Rd.; proceed approximately 8 miles south on So. Johnsburg Rd., entering into the town of Thurman. Bear left at the intersection with Mountain Rd. (at this point, So. Johnsburg Rd. becomes Valley Rd.). In less than a mile, the first of two Combs Rd. entrances will be on your left; turn left into the first entrance. 180 Combs Rd. will be the second house on the left-hand side of the road

This reception is hosted by George and Robin Latimer.

4. Washington County Action

Our Washington County Democrats are working hard on their local races:

October 29, Saturday, 4-7:00 PM, Open House for Granville Candidates Sheila Comar and Frank Caruso at Mary and Nicholas Silitch's house, 10272 Route 22, North Granville, contact Mary Silitch, 642-9410, silitch@erols.com

November 3, Thursday, 6-8:00 PM, Meet Greenwich Candidates, Suzanne Cohen and Lisa Manzi upstairs at One One One Resturant on Main St. in Greenwich, contact Lisa Manzi 854-3388

5. Volunteer For Val

Roger Wyatt reports that the reception for Val Keehn yesterday in Saratoga was a smashing success with around 400 in attendance. What's really exciting, is rank and file Republicans, disgusted by the lies and more, came in to support Val.

However, this is a very intense race and they need help on their literature drop and Walking with Val:

"Breakfast and Blitz: Join us for the Final Literature Drop on behalf of all the Saratoga Springs Democratic Candidates

Saturday, November 5th, 10 to 11:30am at The Parting Glass

1. Stop in and have bagels & muffins and coffee/tea/juice.
2. Head out with your pre-packed Literature Drop bags assembled with an election district map and materials for distribution that weekend.

Donations gladly accepted!
Let us know you’re coming. Email: jstuchi1@nycap.rr.com or phone 583-7855
Election Day is 72 Hours LATER!!!
We need to keep working through Election Day. Bring your family along, bring friends!"

and

"Val will be walking in neighborhoods as much as she can. What we need to do is make those walks more visible. The way to do that is to create groups of 4 to 6 on each walk. So please look at your calendars and see if there isn't a time when you can join Val and other volunteers on these walks.

Here are the times for this week:

Sat. 10/29 12-5 (you could choose any part of this time)
Sun. 10/30 12-3

Per usual, meet Val at headquarters unless you hear differently from her or me.
Thank you so much. Nedra"

Thanks everyone! And a Merry Fitzmas to us all! But let's be careful we don't take the wrong message away.

Larry
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 5:46 PM