Tricounty DFA Update: Tim Merrick Endorsement, Film Fest, A Special Vigil, more
Hello Everyone;

In this update:

1. Dr. Tim Merrick Endorsed
2. Special Vigil Saturday
3. Tabling
4. Citizen's Action Sponsors Congressional Candidate Forum Monday
5. Friday Film Fest
6. Bush A War Criminal?
7. RFK Jr. To Sue Voting Machine Companies
8. Washington County picnic on July 22nd

1. Dr. Tim Merrick Endorsed

We had another successful DFA-Link up at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe Wednesday night. We were pleased to host Dr. Tim Merrick, our Democratic candidate for the 45th Senate District, which encompasses Warren and Washington Counties.

Tim made a great series of remarks and after a brief discussion we unanimously voted to endorse him as our candidate.
For more on this read the press release at: http://www.dfalink.com/blog_post.php?id=14152

We also agreed to hold an open public forum a little later in July for Tim so that voters can get to know him. We'll let you know when we have details.

2. Special Vigil Saturday

There will be a special vigil for peace and to bring our troops home this Saturday: Jean Rikhoff's daughter Allison and her grandson Gabe will be in town and they are planning to hold a three generation vigil.

We urge you all to come and join in this event because we hope to get newspaper coverage! It's pretty neat; Rik's even gotten balloons. For more info: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=10206

Come down to the Five Corners in downtown Glens Falls, just in front of the Civil Center, and bring flags and a sign to support our troops by brining them home.

3. Tabling

Given that there will soon be construction downtown on Glen Street, and because we are getting closer to the General Election, there was a general agreement at Wednesday's meeting to transition to tabling at the Farmer's Market. This is still standing up for peace and to bring the troops home, just in a different way.

I know everyone got Dick's message earlier in the day-- we would be doing the tabling every Saturday until the General Election for all our candidates: Spitzer, Gillibrand and Merrick, also, I suppose, Hevesi and whoever wins the primary for Attorney General.

4. Citizen's Action Sponsors Congressional Candidate Forum

Citizen's Action will be sponsoring a HEALTH CARE FORUM for Candidates for the US House of Representatives in the 20th Congressional District on Monday, July 10th from 6:30pm-8:30pm in the Saratoga Springs Public Library Community Room,
49 Henry Street, Saratoga Springs, NY

"Join the Candidates for the US House of Representatives in the 20th Congressional District & Richard Kirsch, Citizen Action of New York. Michael Burgess, NYS Alliance for Retired Americans and Richard Propp, MD, Capital District Alliance for Universal Healthcare."

"With health care near the top of everybody's issue list in this election year, Citizen Action brings together the candidates from the US House of Representatives and three health care expert panelists to share perspectives and ideas with the goal of generating possible solutions to the health care crisis."

So far all the Democratic candidates and the Green Party candidate have agreed to appear; Sweeney, however, has not.

5. Friday Film Fest

On Friday, July 7th at 8pm the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe will present its next progressive Film Forum:

THE AGRONOMIST (www.theagronomist.com)
From Academy-award winning filmmaker Jonathan Demme, The Agronomist is the story of Haitian national hero, journalist and freedom fighter Jean Dominique. As owner and operator of his nation’s only free radio station, Dominique was frequently at odds with his country’s various repressive governments. He fought tirelessly against his country’s overwhelming injustice, oppression, and poverty but his shocking and still unsolved, assassination in April of 2000 was what gave the director the impetus to assemble more than a decade’s worth of material into a celebration of this dynamic man and his legacy.
Director: Jonathan Demme Running time: 91 min.

6. Bush A War Criminal?

There are two "must reads" this week: Former Clinton aide Sydney Blummenthal has written a detailed piece in today's Salon.com on the profound legal repercussions of the Supreme Court Hamdan decision. Bush and Cheney's actions since 9/11 have actually put him in jeopardy for future war crimes prosecution. http://www.salon.com/opinion/blumenthal/2006/07/06/hamdan/print.html

Also, the former Newsweek bureau chief explains the situation in Iraq is far worse than it appears in the papers because the Bush administration is manipulating press coverage. http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=3525

7. RFK Jr. To Sue Voting Machine Companies

What may be the big story next week is that Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, is about to sue the manufacturers of electronic voting machines and expose how they are rigging elections: http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/070306E.shtml

8. Washington County picnic on July 22nd

Finally, we are all invited to a picnic! The Washington County Democratic Picnic is coming up on July 22nd at the Salem Fish & Game Club (on the beautiful Battenkill River) from 10 am until 2 pm. I went to this event last year and it was a lot of fun and much food. Come meet Democratic candidates and dignitaries. Tickets are $15 for adults and $6 for students. Tickets can be purchased from any Washington County Democratic Committee person or call (518) 642-9566

Directions from Northway–North & South: Take Exit 15 east and follow Route 29 through Schuylerville and Greenwich. Just past East Greenwich look for Salem Fish and Game sign on right, turn at sign proceed to pavilion on right. From Troy / Albany take Route 40 North to the intersection of Route 29 and turn right through Greenwich (see above). From Hoosick Falls take Route 22 north and 9 miles past Cambridge turn left at the intersection of Route 29 and travel 1 mile to sign and take left

I'll have another reminder on this next week!

Thanks everyone!

See you all Saturday at 11am,

Larry
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 3:50 PM