Tricounty DFA Update: Sweeney Drunk At Union College, Film Canceled, Meetup Next Week: Windpower, Ballot Machines Today
1. Sweeney Photo'd Drunk At Union Frat Party (Really)
2. Film Canceled At Rockhill
3. Meetup Next Week: Windpower presentation, more
4. Vigil Saturday
5. Hear Spitzer Saturday Night
6. Ballot Machine Report

1. Sweeney Photo'd Drunk At Union Frat Party (Really)

Okay. First: I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP!!!

On the Times Union Capitol Blog tonight is a report, with pictures, of Rep. John Sweeney at a Union College fraternity party last Saturday. The pictures of an obviously drunk Sweeney were taken at 1am according to a report in the Union College newspaper. There are five pictures of Sweeney posing with students. According to the TU, "Tomlin described Sweeney in print as “acting openly intoxicated.” He told me the congressman was “very loud and cursing,” and also slurring his words while trying to discuss policy with the students." There were other confirming reports. Here's the link:
http://blogs.timesunion.com/capitol/?p=983#comments

As Mark Twain said (and this is my favorite), "Why shouldn't truth be stranger than fiction? Fiction has to stick to the possibilities." Who could make this up? Or dare? One could hardly describe this as the behavior of a man running for high office. One has to wonder what was going through his mind, if he has one left. Moments like are like vintage Bordeaux, meant to sipped, savored and remembered.

2. Film Canceled At Rockhill

Unfortunately, due to technical problems, the Friday night film fest at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe scheduled for tomorrow at 7pm has been canceled. It will be rescheduled for next week.

3. Meetup Next Week: Windpower presentation, more

Next Wednesday, at 7pm at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe in Downtown Glens Falls we will have the first DFA-Linkup entering our fourth year.

On the schedule is a presentation by Jim McAndrew of Adirondack Windpower on the clean energy wind turbine project being proposed for the old Barton pit mine site near North Creek. With gas prices now over $3 a gallon, interest in clear, renewable energy is at a premium, so this couldn't be more timely. We will also be talking about the DFA Action Day on May 13th and more. Additional details later.

The Bakehouse Cafe is on the corner of Elm and Exchange Streets and Hudson Ave. between the Glens Falls Hospital and the Five Corners in Downtown Glens Falls.

4. Vigil Saturday

The Saturday morning vigils for peace and to bring our troops home that Bernice Mennis started will continue this Saturday at 11am for one hour at the Five Corners in Downtown Glens Falls. Since Saturday is the day of the big demonstration in NYC, it would be nice to have a good showing here in Glens Falls. For more info or to RSVP go to :http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=7567 Bernice suggests we try to increase our numbers this time by bring just one extra person!

5. Hear Spitzer Saturday Night

On Saturday April 29th at 7pm at the SEIU Hall in Albany there will be a special opportunity for all DFA members to hear and meet the future Governor of the State of New York, Eliot Spitzer. There will be a leadership conference earlier in the day as well. If you want to hear Spitzer, you should RSVP at: (also info)
http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=7426

6. Ballot Machine Report

Finally, we had a nice turn out while I was there of our DFA members at the Voting Machine demonstration at the Civil Center Today -- so thanks to the eleven while I was there and the others who came during the day. Piles of comment sheets were filled out by attendees. We were easily the biggest presence there, it was not that heavily attended.

There were several working machines and a number of prototypes under development. Clearly, the optical scan vendors had the most confidence inspiring demonstration. It was easy to see how paper ballots were marked, how the machines reject overvotes -- that is, voting twice, while preserving security. This is a well established, well understood and reliable technology.

I also have to confess the so-called Liberty machine seems to be somewhat reasonable, although I frankly still prefer the paper ballots that are optically scanned. The Liberty machine most closely preserves the look and feel of our existing lever action machines -- it actually looks like a sample ballot we see every year. Basically with the Liberty device you are using a machine to mark a paper ballot, which you see through a window. When you are done it is clipped off a reel and it goes into a bin. It does not have a video screen, it is simple, and it folds up into a large suitcase. It might actually mean the easiest transition for most voters. These machines have been reliably used in the Netherlands for a number of years.

The touchscreen machines present are colossal, easily bigger than a large double door fridge, some with as many as four screens so that New York's full face ballot is preserved, as required by law. These machines are being manufactured only for New York State, so they are not actually ready. They are obviously hugely expensive. Being new, their reliability is unknown.

Diebold, the most controversial of the machine vendors, was not present and will not, apparently, compete in NYS.

See you all at the vigil Saturday at 11am!

Thanks,

Larry

See you all at the vigil Saturday at 11am!

Thanks,

Larry
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 10:43 PM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Update: Voting Machine Demonstration Thursday
Hello Everyone!

In This Update:

1. Voting Machine Demonstration Thursday
2. Who Are The New Despots We've Created In Iraq?
3. Dean Speaks in Depth-- Katrina, The Party, Elections
4. Friday Film Fest
5. Meet Spitzer
6. Saturday Vigils Continue
7. Forests For Sale?
8. On The Lighter Side

1. Voting Machine Demonstration Thursday

What may be the most important event in the foreseeable future for us in our local DFA group is coming up this Thursday, April 27 at the Glens Falls Civic Center: From noon to 7pm the Boards of Elections of Saratoga, Warren, Washington and Essex Counties will be demonstrating new voting machines that are being proposed for our use in future elections.

We will be able to see and test these machines. But the important part, something every single one of us should make every effort to stop by and participate in, is that there will be official comment forms that become part of the legal record as the process of deciding on new voting machines moves forward.

We want to make it clear as possible the American people want paper ballot machines. Many reputable computer scientists, like Bo Lipari of New York Verified Voting, who we hosted in November, attest that all electronic touch screen machines can be hacked and are inherently dangerous to our democracy. Many observers feel these touch screen machines are already responsible for stealing recent elections.

In the article linked below from the American Prospect, you will read how deeply concerned Governor Dean is about these machines. What we want is called PB/OS for paper ballot/optically scanned. The critical factor is that the marked paper ballot is the REAL ballot, not memory stored on a chip that can be changed. The paper ballots can be recounted if there is a failure or hanky panky.

It is critical that you indicated on the forms that you want PB/OS!

A copy of the official invitation to this event from the Boards is online at DFA-Link: www.dfalink.com/group_files.php?... Print one off and bring it if you wish.

I will be there at about 5:15. Anyone who wants to go in as a group can rally then! Please bring a friend, or two or three.

Our democracy really is at stake in this issue. Let's not let another stolen election happen because of our apathy and inaction!

2. Who Are The New Despots We've Created In Iraq? Must Read Of The Week.

It's been in the news that a new government has been formed in Iraq. Who are these officials our troops are now fighting for? The answer is former-- and present -- terrorists in the Iranian linked Dawa Party. Maliki, the new premier, spent years in Iran.

Even a cursory read of this article makes it clear we are not fighting for freedom in Iraq, but to cut deals with vicious, sadistic religious fundamentalists friendly to Iran who want to take their country and its people back to the middle ages.

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/04/24/a_paper_lid_on_iraqs_volcano.php

3. Dean Speaks in Depth-- Katrina, The Party, Elections

The DNC just had its yearly convention in New Orleans, which has put the spotlight on Governor Dean, who spoke at length. He also recently had a lengthy breakfast with the staff of the American Prospect. A full transcript, which is unusual, being rather long, is now online and it gives a superb view of what's up and how we are going to take our country back.

http://www.prospect.org/web/printfriendly-view.ww?id=11436

Dean also spoke in New Orleans on the importance of Hurricane Katrina:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5772133,00.html

And on building up the Party at all levels, not just trying to grab a few prestige slots:
http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/story.jsp?floc=ne-main-5-l21&idq=/ff/story/0001%2F20060422%2F2141936342.htm&sc=1130

4. Friday Film Fest

On Friday, the 28th, at 7pm the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe in Downtown Glens Falls will hold the next in its Progressive Film Fest with a tripleheader:
Independent Media In A Time Of War (www.democracynow.org)
Part scathing critique, part call to action. Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman argues that dialogue is vital to a healthy democracy.

Voices Against War: F15 NYC (www.hm.indymedia.org)
Chronicles the experiences of "ordinary" people on the streets of Manhattan as they joined millions around the globe in "The World says No To War" protests.

The Speeches Of Malcolm X
In his own words. This is a short collection of excerpted speeches from one of the great leaders of the civil rights movement.
Running time: approx 95 Minutes (all three together) Admission is free.

5. Meet Spitzer

On Saturday April 29th at 7pm at the SEIU Hall in Albany there will be a special opportunity for all DFA members to hear and meet the future Governor of the State of New York, Eliot Spitzer. There will be a leadership conference earlier in the day as well. If you want to hear Spitzer, you should RSVP at: (also info)
http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=7426

6. Saturday Vigils Continue

The Saturday morning vigils for peace and to bring our troops home that Bernice Mennis started will continue this Saturday at 11am for one hour at the Five Corners in Downtown Glens Falls. Since Saturday is the day of the big demonstration in NYC, it would be nice to have a good showing here in Glens Falls. For more info or to RSVP go to :http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=7567 Bernice suggests we try to increase our numbers this time by bring just one extra person!

7. Forests For Sale?

Wendy brought to my attention Saturday that Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., is issuing an urgent appeal for the National Resources Defense Council: the Bush administration is proposing to sell off 300,000 acres of National Forest lands to private interests -- probably loggers. It is feared that this sale, as colossal as it is, is merely the entering wedge of even more lands and even national monuments. To send a petition to the Forest Service go to: http://www.savebiogems.org/takeaction.asp
http://www.savebiogems.org/lands/tellafriend.asp

8. On The Lighter Side

Finally, on the lighter side,Roger sends this along --- the Decider Guy goes Koo KOo cha choo.
http://decider.cf.huffingtonpost.com/


Thanks everyone!

Larry
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 12:38 AM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Update: Extraordinary Vigil Saturday, events and more
Hello Everyone;

In this update:

1. Extraordinary Vigil Saturday
2. DFA Night School Tuesday Night
3. Gillibrand Events
4. Friday Film Fest
5. Ballston Chocolate Fest
6. Saratoga Kickoff
7. Kuncinich Letter
8. "Small Time Crime With Big Time Connections"

1. Extraordinary Vigil Saturday

At the Saturday morning vigil for peace and to bring our troops home there was an extraordinary echo of another war. We were honored by the presence of disabled Vietnam Veteran Joe Leroux. Joe was passing by, heard the many horns of the cars passing by and stopped to see what we were up to. He was so delighted to learn we were calling for an end to this war, that he went and bought coffees for everyone. Then he went to his car, got the patched and mended service jacket he wore in Vietnam, which he keeps with him, and joined us.

Joe said he would return this Saturday with some friends from Vietnam to join us again-- I hope he makes it. We will be at the five corners in downtown Glens Falls from 11am to noon. Last Saturday we had one teenaged heckler, and many, many cars that went by waving and smiling and beeping their horns-- a complete reverse of the experience three years ago. If that is the response in conservative Glens Falls, think what head of steam is building across the country. To RSVP: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=7389

Joe's willingness to speak out against this war bears concrete witness for the rest of us. George Orwell once wrote, "Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind." in time like these we must demand clarity of our leaders, not wind and obfuscation, lest we create another generation of disabled vets like Joe Leroux and his buddies. http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=7389

2. DFA Night School Tuesday Night

There will be another session of the DFA Night School Tuesday at 8:30 EDST. The subject this week will be volunteer recruitment. To participate you have to join DFA-Link and RSVP at: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=6803

3. Gillibrand Events

Congressional candidate Kirsten Gillibrand was at Jolly John's Fish Fry in Glens Falls on Good Friday for a "meet and greet" event. Readers of the Post Star saw a picture of her including the back of Glens Falls Steering Committee member Bob Rockwell's head!

Next: Gillibrand will be at house party at the home of Carrie Woerner in Round Lake on Wednesday, April 19th from 5:30-76pm.
The address is 6 Fletcher Avenue, Round Lake, NY Phone: 899-5517

A USA Today Reporter will be in attendance!

RSVP: Carrie - By Tuesday/April 18 - 899-5517 or
Pat - 586-4983 or 542-9157 or mcfriesen2@aol.com

Directions: take Northway to exit 11
East on Round Lake Road (downhill)
At the bottom of the hill, turn right onto Lake Avenue.
Turn left onto Fletcher Avenue.
(The sign is posted on the right, on a tree, above eye level.
If you pass the Deaf Child Area sign, you have just missed the turn.)
Continue on Fletcher Ave, through stop sign, then pass the Round Lake Auditorium on your left.
House is on the right -- multi-greens with wrap-around porch.

* On Saturday, April 22nd at 3pm there will be a meet the candidate event for Gillibrand at Bridisi's Restaurant on Broadway in Saratoga Springs, across from Border's Books. There will be finger foods and a cash bar. Please RSVP to Pat Friesen at 587-4983 pr mcfriesen2@aol.com

4. Friday Film Fest

The Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe video and film festival continues this Friday, 4/21 at 7pm with GUNNER PALACE (www.gunnerpalace.com)
American soldiers of the 2/3 Field Artillery, a group known as the "Gunners," tell of their experiences in Baghdad during the Iraq War. Holed up in a bombed out pleasure palace built by Saddam Hussein, the soldiers endured hostile situations some four months after President George W. Bush declared the end of major combat operations in the country. Admission is free. The Cafe is in downtown Glens Falls on Exchange and Elm Streets.

5. Ballston Chocolate Fest

The Ballston Lake Democratic Committee will have it's First Annual Chocolate Festival Saturday, April 22, 2006 from 1-5pm, featuring live Jazz with James Looby. $12.00 ADULTS $6.00 CHILDREN

Ballston Lake Firehouse
Route 146A in the Town of Ballston Lake

For info go to: http://www.ballstondems.org

6. Saratoga Kickoff-- (note time change)

The Saratoga County Democratic Committee will hold a 2006 Election Kickoff at the Gideon Putnam Hotel in Saratoga Springs on Monday, April 24th at 7pm. (Cocktails are now at 6:30pm). Special Guest speaker will be Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, the next Governor of New York! Kirsten Gillibrand will also attend. This will be one of the biggest events ever staged by the Saratoga Democratic Committee.

Tickets are $65 and must be reserved by April 18th. To RSVP call Beth Russell at 518-792-9157, unionsec@lu773.org, or Jaye Kuczynski at 518-366-6156, jkuczynski@gmail.com

7. Kuncinich Letter

2004 Presidental candidate Congressman Dennis Kucinich is in the news for the first time a awhile. Kucinich has information that U.S. troops are already operating inside Iran, conducting clandestine activities of some unknown, but deeply troubling sort. Kucinich just sent a letter to the White House demanding to know what is going on and under what authority. For more on this new and troubling development in the Persian Gulf go to: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/4/16/23621/9092

8. "Small Time Crime With Big Time Connections"

Everyone who remembers Watergate knows it started slowly in a story most people missed. A eerily similar story regarding dirty tricks in the 2002 New Hampshire Senatorial race, low level operatives, sudden White House involved and more has been slowly bubbling to the surface. This is the must read of the week; the Watergate memories says it could really go somewhere: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/17/opinion/17mon4.html

Thanks everyone! See you soon,

Larry
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 12:08 AM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Flash
Hello Everyone;

First, Happy Passover to all our Jewish members!

On Friday starting at around 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. Kirsten and Jonathan Gillibrand will be at Jolly John's Fish Fry here in Glens Falls to do a "meet and greet."

As long time Glens Falls residents know, Jolly John's is a local lenten tradition. Jolly himself -- John Kemnitzer, is the former Glens Falls Democratic Councilman from the Fifth Ward. Traditionally, the whole Kemnitzer family (and friends) show up to help, including Paul Kemnitzer, former Glens Falls City Treasurer, who won office in what may be the biggest landslide in city history.

So if you want to meet, or just say hello to Kirsten Gillibrand, this is a great chance to do it.

The Fish Fry is on 134 Ridge Street, in downtown Glens Falls, directly across from the firehouse.

And don't forget our vigil Saturday from 11am to noon at the Five Corners in downtown Glens Falls.

Have a great holiday weekend!

Larry

p.s. The fish is great, too.
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 11:54 PM 0 comments

 
Hello Everyone;

In This Update:

1. DFA Night School Tonight
2. Show support For Gillibrand At DFA-Link
2. Larry Bulman Brings Home the Bacon! Also With Spitzer On C-Span
3. Vigils Continue
4. Friday Night Film at Rockhill
5. Ballston Dems Chocolate Fest
6. Saratoga Democratic Fundraiser: Spitzer, Gillibrand
7. Online Actions:
8. Voting Machine Demonstration on the 27th

1. DFA Night School Tonight

Everyone who made it to February's Training Day at the Plumber's Hall in South Glens Falls knows how great the DFA Training Academy is. You may not want to miss the FREE nation wide phone conference training scheduled for tonight. To register go to: http://tools.democracyforamerica.com/nightschool/

2. Show support For Gillibrand At DFA-Link

Also on DFA-Link: The Gillibrand campaign has created a page where everyone can show support for her campaign! Kirsten Gillibrand is the officially endorsed candidate of al the DFA groups in the district. She has also been endorsed by groups outside the district like Demoracy For Hudson Mohawk and Democracy For New York City. You do have to be registered with DFA-Link to vote. Her page is at: http://www.dfalink.com/campaign.php?id=1167

2. Larry Bulman Brings Home the Bacon! Also With Spitzer On C-Span

Our Saratoga County Democratic Chair, Larry Bulman was recently in Washington, DC at the National Building Trades Legislative Conference, where he secured funding for both Eliot Spitzers' run for Governor and Kirsten Gillibrand's for Congress. So all our congratulations, Larry! He also reports that Spitzer gave a great speech at the conference, and thanked Larry Bulman by name. There's video of the conference online at C-Span. Go to http://www.c-span.org/search/basic.asp?ResultStart=1&ResultCount=10&BasicQueryText=building+trades&image1.x=18&image1.y=12&image1=Submit
It's about two hours in.

3. Vigils Continue

Vigils for peace and to bring our troops home are continuing in downtown Glens Falls at the Five Corners of Glen, Ridge and Warren Streets at 11am on Saturday. The vigils only last an hour, so it's not much of a commitment. The change in attitudes is evidenced by the honking horns, smiles and waves. To RSVP go to: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=7247

4. Friday Night Film at Rockhill

The Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe video and film festival continues this Friday at 7pm with Coffee And Cigarettes (www.coffeeandcigarettesmovie.com) "Celebrated writer-director Jim Jarmusch serves up this series of short vignettes that build on one another to create a cumulative effect as the characters discuss things as diverse as caffeine popsicles, Paris in the twenties and the use of nicotine as an insecticide all the while sitting around sipping coffee and smoking cigarettes." Admission is free. The Cafe is in downtown Glens Falls on Exchange and Elm Streets.

5. Ballston Dems Chocolate Fest

The Ballston Lake Democratic Committee will have it's First Annual Chocolate Festival Saturday, April 22, 2006 from 1-5pm, featuring live Jazz with James Looby. $12.00 ADULTS $6.00 CHILDREN

Ballston Lake Firehouse
Route 146A in the Town of Ballston Lake

For info go to: http://www.ballstondems.org

6. Saratoga Democratic Fundraiser: Spitzer, Gillibrand

The Saratoga County Democratic Committee will hold a 2006 Election Kickoff at the Gideon Putnam Hotel in Saratoga Springs on Monday, April 24th at 7pm. (Cocktails are at 6pm). Special Guest speaker will be Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, the next Governor of New York! Kirsten Gillibrand will also attend! This will be a major event.

Saratoga Democratic Chair Larry Bulman sends the following message:

"As you are aware, Eliot Spitzer is a star in our party and cares very
much about all Saratogians. He is committed to fixing the problems in
upstate New York, a real problem our current Governor has made much
worse."

"I cannot emphasize enough how important it is that we have a strong
showing at this fundraiser. Although Eliot is attending to help us
raise money for our local elections, he must leave the event feeling
very impressed at what we have accomplished as a Democratic Party in
such a GOP region. As most of you know, all the dynamics are going to
change in Albany. There are going to be many opportunities again, for
Democrats, after 12 long years of GOP rule."

"Please do your best to attend and bring friends and supporters. Again,
for many reasons, this is probably our most important fundraiser as a
County Committee in 10 years! "

Tickets are $65 and must be reserved by April 18th. To RSVP call Beth Russell at 518-792-9157, unionsec@lu773.org, or Jaye Kuczynski at 518-366-6156, jkuczynski@gmail.com

7. Online Actions

There are some online actions worth joining: John Kerry has come around -- his new stance on the war is making headlines and he made a terrific appearance Sunday on Meet The Press. Kerry is calling for a full withdrawal of US forces from Iraq in 45 days if the Iraqi factions don't come together to form a government, which seems increasingly unlikely. Go to: http://www.johnkerry.com/action/deadline/

This I like: The AFL-CIO is calling for action on excessive executive compensation: http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/paywatch

Barbara Seid sends this along: petition our members of congress to vote for a discharge petition to force a debate on the House on Iraq.
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/clw/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=3301

8. Voting Machine Demonstration on the 27th

Finally, in a separate message I am going to send everyone a printed invitation that Rosemary Weinberg got for the voting machine demonstration in the Glens Falls Civic Center on April 27th. We agreed at our last meeting to call for all our members to come out in force to enter the comment process and make it clear we want paper ballot machines, not the hack-able touch screen machines that many feel are responsible for stealing recent elections. The invitation is also online at DFA-Link: http://www.dfalink.com/group_files.php?gid=113

Thanks everyone!

Larry
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 6:11 PM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Weekend Update
Hello Everyone;

In this update:

1. Vigil Reminder
2. Rockhill Filmfest Friday
3. House Party For Gillibrand April 9
4. Meetup Follow Up: Training Day
6. DNC National Canvass Day-- register by the 11th to get kit
7. Lobbying Day In Albany
8. C-Span Link
9. Wall Street Dems Attack Grassroots, Unions

1. Vigil Reminder

There will be another vigil for peace and to bring our troops home this Saturday at the Five Corners in downtown Glens Falls from 11am-Noon. Come and bring a sign and a friend!

2. Rockhill Filmfest Friday
At 7pm Friday the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe in downtown Glens Falls we will be showing Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media (www.zeitgeistvideo.com) Funny, provocative and surprisingly accessible, Manufacturing Consent explores the political life and ideas of world-renowned linguist, intellectual and political activist, Noam Chomsky. Admission is free.

3. House Party For Gillibrand April 9

Meet Kirsten Gillibrand!

Linda and Joe Seeman Cordially invite you to a reception for Kirsten Gillibrand, Candidate for U.S. House of Representatives 20th District, at our home in Ballston Spa, NY (Town of Milton) on Sunday, April 9, 2006 3pm until 5pm.

Please R.S.V.P. by Wed. April 5th to the phone or email address below.
Call for directions and details at 518-583-4326 or joe.seeman@yahoo.com

Note: Contributions are not expected but will be accepted.

4. Meetup Follow Up: Training Day

At last night's meeting we were discussing a series of things: first, DFA is having a national call in training next Tuesday night as part of the DFA Academy. Everyone who went to the Training Day at the Plumber's Hall knows how good these are. It will start at 8:30 and last an hour. For info go to: http://www.dfalink.com/nightschool

6. DNC National Canvass Day-- register by the 11th to get kit

Trudy also called our attention to the DNC's national neighbor-neighbor canvas day on April 29. They are asking us to go door to door on the streets where we live and talk to our neighbors. If you go online by the 11th and register, the DNC will send you a free kit of door hangers and info. This sounds terrific and there is no reason you can't canvass for other candidates as well at the same time. For more info go to: http://www.dnc.org/a/2006/03/fifty_state_can.php

7. Lobbying Day In Albany

Lisa sends this to follow up on last night's discussion about voting machines:

On Tuesday, April 11, 2006, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM. 2006 Clean Money, Clean Elections Lobby Day, Legislative Office Building, Albany, Room 104A

Citizen Action of New York will be co-sponsoring Lobby Day with Democracy Matters, the college student organization that works to educate students and the community on money in politics issues with a focus on Clean Money, Clean Elections. There are seven Democracy Matters chapters in New York State that will join us for Lobby Day. The morning will include Lobbying Training, Guest Speakers and Lunch. The afternoon will be filled with legislative lobby visits with State Senators and Representatives. We need as many folks as possible to join us on Tuesday the 11th. Our lobbying effort will continue with local lobby visits in all regions acros! s New York after April 11th.For more information and RSVP Jessica Wisneski, Clean Money, Clean ElectionsCoordinator of Citizen Action of New York via e-mail: jwisneski@citizenactionny.org or by calling: 518-465-4600 x109

8. C-Span Link

Nora reported on a remarkable C-Span program with retired Army Col. Karen Kwiatkowski. She was in the White House during the run up to the war and has retired in disgust at what Bush and the neocons were doing. Here is a link to info and another to live video.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/4/3/16550/61573


9. Wall Street Dems Attack Grassroots, Unions

Drew Monthie sent this David Sirota piece below; it's a troubling eye-opener. I'll have a more detailed report on our busy meeting over the weekend!

Thanks,

Larry

****


Wall Street Dems Unveil Plan to Undermine Progressives




Here's a big shocker - the Wall Street wing of the Democratic Party today announced it would be beginning its new war in earnest on the grassroots elements of the party that are demanding serious public policy changes. As the Financial Times reports, Citigroup Chairman Bob Rubin held a press conference at the Brookings Institution to announce the formation of the so-called "Hamilton Project." After paying lip service to various economic problems afflicting the country, Rubin and his former Treasury colleague Roger Altman quickly let it be known exactly what they are up to.

Here's the key excerpt:

"At a time when Democrats have become more aggressive in voicing concerns about the foreign ownership of US assets, Roger Altman, former deputy Treasury secretary under Mr Clinton, added that more inclusive economic growth could also 'blunt the political demands for protectionism'...[The group] said it was willing to take on entrenched Democratic interests, such as teaching unions. Policy papers unveiled on Wednesday proposed vouchers for summer schools..."

There it all is. First there's the dishonest name-calling aimed at those courageous Democrats who are challenging the free trade orthodoxy that is destroying the lives of millions of American and foreign workers. Then there is the promise of an ensuing attack on the labor movement - a reflexive move, of course, for a bunch of corporate executives. And finally, the nod to efforts to defund public education through "vouchers."

None of this is surprising, of course. As head of Citigroup, Rubin has a financial interest in the agenda he's pushing. And he's made no apologies for the brazenness with which he pushes his corporatism. Remember, it was Rubin during the debate over the Central American Free Trade Agreement who demanded that congressional Democrats back off their efforts to include labor, human rights and environmental protections in the pact. He and his pals are the same people who rammed trade deals like NAFTA, WTO and China PNTR down the throats of Americans, and then left government service for the high life of the corporate boardroom. There, they reaped the rich financial rewards of the very sell-out policies they used public office to push, while millions of Americans saw their jobs outsourced, their wages frozen and their benefits slashed.

Oh sure, the group claims it is going to look at critical issues like income inequality - but you can be sure they will look at that issue without looking at issues like "free" trade that are fueling that inequality. Because make no mistake about it - this move today is nothing more than the beginning of a frontal attack by Corporate America on the progressive movement, using the Democratic Party as an all-too-transparent cloak of legitimacy.



posted by David Sirota @ 5:02 PM
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 12:35 AM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Update: Meetup Wednesday and more
Hello Everyone;

In this update:

1. Vigil At Five Corners
2. Glens Falls DFA Meeting Wednesday
3. House Party For Gillibrand April 9
4. Bill Clinton Now Backs Dean And 50 State Plan
5. French Fight On For All
6. Kevin Phillip's Book And Article

1. Vigil At Five Corners

First , a salute to the small but dedicated group that showed up in the pouring rain Saturday at the Five Corners in downtown Glens Falls for another peace vigil, and Bernice Mennis for getting it going. Despite the rain, as before, passersby beeped horns, waved and gave the thumbs up and a few peace signs as a show of support for bringing American troops home and ending the Iraq disaster, which has now run three years.

2. Glens Falls DFA Meeting Wednesday

The war isn't the only thing three years old: next Wednesday at 7pm the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe in downtown Glens Falls we will be celebrating our Third Anniversary Meetup-- now DFA-Linkup. It is hard to believe it was three years ago that a group of us first gathered to create the local Dean For America campaign.

I want to personally thank every single person who has come or lent their support to our group over the last three years! It has been an extraordinary experience and a signal priviledge; together, with our DFA comrades across the country, we have made history in building grassroots politics to Take Back America.

On the agenda Wednesday will be our program for action over the next few months. These will include: the Walmart Healthcare Law now before the State Legislature, upcoming voting machine demonstrations at the Civic Center (we hope to have more info shortly), this year's election campaigns and candidate forums.

The Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe is located on the corner of Exchange and Elm Streets and Hudson Avenue in downtown Glens Falls. To reach it from the Northway, take Exit 18 east into Glens Falls. Go past the Hannaford and bear right at the Stewart's,. Go past the Post Office and the Hospital until the light just before the five corners downtown. The cafe is on the left going towards the five corners. Please come and bring a friend!

3. House Party For Gillibrand April 9

Meet Kirsten Gillibrand!

Linda and Joe Seeman Cordially invite you to a reception for Kirsten Gillibrand, Candidate for U.S. House of Representatives 20th District, at our home in Ballston Spa, NY (Town of Milton) on Sunday, April 9, 2006 3pm until 5pm.

Please R.S.V.P. by Wed. April 5th to the phone or email address below.
Call for directions and details at 518-583-4326 or joe.seeman@yahoo.com

Note: Contributions are not expected but will be accepted.

4. Bill Clinton Now Backs Dean And 50 State Plan

Governor Dean's 50 State Strategy was initially derided by Old Politics Democrats as kooky, blogger nuttiness. Now the Governor's wisdom has become Conventional Wisdom. Even former President Clinton has now come on board to the 50 State Strategy, recognizing that it is the only long term hope to Take Back America.

The idea, along with the entire Dean inspired concept to build and empower grassroots is simple; the way to political victory won't come by figuring out how to win in the communities we have, but rather build communities we can win in.

For more: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/3/31/12272/6391
and http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/03/bill_clintons_a.html

This new universal acceptance is a tremendous victory not only for Governor Dean, but common sense itself.

5. French Fight On For All

The Battle Of France continues, as French students and workers take to the streets to fight Globalization and prevent the destruction of an alternative social model to raw free market capitalism advocated by neo-liberals and the neocons. This is a immensely important and under-or mis-reported story.

Here's a great quote from Common Dreams.org that makes some sense of what is going on:

"the classical economist David Ricardo's "iron law of wages,"... says that in conditions of wage competition and unlimited labor supply, wages will fall to just above subsistence."

"There never before has been unlimited labor. There is now, thanks to globalization - and the process has only begun."

"...European unrest signals a serious gap in political and corporate understanding of the human consequences of a capitalist model that considers labor a commodity and extends price competition for that commodity to the entire world."

"In the longer term, there may be more serious political implications in this than even France's politicized students suspect."

For the full article go to: http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0329-29.htm
Also, this review from the NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/29/books/29geog.html

It's good to remember that the French Republic's motto: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, was created by the early French Revolutionaries as the most distilled version they could create of the principles of the American Revolution, which they sought to emulate, at least initially.

6. Kevin Phillip's Book And Article

Finally, Dick has been reading Kevin Phillip's new book "American Theocracy: The Perils and Politics of Radical Religion, Oil, and Borrowed Money in the 21st Century" and that it is a stunning "must read". There is a excerpt of the beginning on the Washington Post website and it is tremendous: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/01/AR2006040100004.html

Phillip's book is worth studying with deep care because it is the roadmap to a Democratic Victory: he lays out the themes we can win on this year and 2008.

See you all Wednesday for our third anniversary!

Many thanks to you all,

Larry
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 11:47 PM 0 comments